4. Restaurants

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

66-472 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI, 96712
  • (808) 293-1839
  • Store is closed

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Haleiwa for healthy meals suggestion.

Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill ( 66-011 Kamehameha Hwy )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Cliff S.

    Maybe I got here on an off day? First off, I loved the atmosphere. I like hole-in-the-wall type places - food truck, covered patio, lots of other food booths nearby. Unfortunately the food didn't live up to the hype as the shrimp was bitter. We ordered two plates of the original scampi. It was deveined nicely and I'm a garlic fan, but our shrimp was definitely bitter. You MUST stop at one of the local road-side stands and get a fresh, ripe pineapple - absolutely the BEST.

    (3)

  • Gina M.

    Like whoa! I'm not really a big fan of shrimp, but the shrimp scampi sure got my attention! since there was 3 of us, we each ordered different plates on the menu and hands down the shrimp scampi is the best... full of flavor... yes, oily, but still full of flavor! the spicy shrimp comes in 2nd for me, and the lemon shrimp rounding 3rd. downside is they close pretty early... and it's a bit overpriced... you're basically paying $1 per shrimp! but Giovanni's appears to have become a novelty of hawaii and you must try it at least once in your lifetime.

    (4)

  • Jade M.

    I tried the spicy shrimp one. It was good. Wish I had try the garlic shrimp too. From what I remember it was 12 a plate. It was pretty well worth it. Order came up fast too and everything tasted fresh.

    (5)

  • Steven M.

    4 stars - bomb shrimp scampi. not exactly cheap its 13 bucks for a dozen shrimps. It taste pretty good but doesnt really blow my mind.... still... pretty good. Stick to the scampi, i tried the spicy shrimp and i prefer the scampi. Scampi is bomb! tried the mac salad - its ok. also, its not really something to compare to boiling crab... different things...

    (4)

  • Donna K.

    Skimpy Shrimpy.. I was really looking forward to seeing what all the hype is all about in the north shore. I was really disappointed to taste the spicy shrimp it was just lathed in hot sauce over powering the shrimp. I could tell the shrimp itself was tasty, but the sauce ruined it. All I tasted was spicy and not flavor. The shrimp itself was overcooked. This could have been the case of sloppiness. There are so many shrimp trucks on the north shore now, that I would like to try another truck.

    (2)

  • Jorgeanne C.

    My go to shrimp truck in the north shore. When I tell someone I'm headed to oahu they automatically recommend Giovanni's. And it's obvious why, their shrimp are big, full of flavor, and are just so darn good that I am salivating thinking about my experience. First of all Giovanni's is a food truck not no fancy sit down waited on restaurant. It's a place your hands will get all dirty and you will leave with at least one stain on your clothing, an oily face, and will leave smelling like your meal all while thinking "that was worth it." You get two scoops of rice and all shrimp. You have three options - original scampi, spicy (Freakin spicy and you can't return it), and lemon garlic. Scampi is hands down the winner. If you like the spice get the hot sauce on the side, trust. Over the years they've increased their prices but coming from California a plate full of shrimp and big sized ones too cooked with perfection is no match with what Giovanni's price it for. I feel like I am still getting a steal for $13 a plate even if a number of years ago it's was $7. They have drinks for a $1 each. I recommend brung wet ones with you!

    (5)

  • Kayla C.

    Maybe we came on a bad day but my husband and I have lived in Haleiwa for about a year and tried Giovannis for the first time today (only because Dat Cajun Guy truck is closed on Sunday) and we couldn't even finish the food. He got the "most popular" dish shrimp scampi and I got the spicy shrimp plate. All of the shrimp was rubbery and the flavor wasn't that good so even if it had been cooked well,it wasn't good enough to go again. It was a waste of $25. We ended up tossing it and going to eat at a local sandwich shop. If you're in the shrimp truck area, GO TO DAT CAJUN GUY and get their fried pickles and sweet tea. GO ANYWHERE ELSE BUT HERE.

    (1)

  • Joe P.

    Awesome shrimp truck, spicy means spicy! Really Ono stuff though, garlic shrimp is great bring cash, better than average Mac salad!

    (4)

  • D L.

    Awesome! Definitely need to stop by!

    (5)

  • Brent T.

    Came up to the north side of the island for the Dole Plantation for my gf. We decided we would go up to Haleiwa to try the famed Giovanni's and to hit Matsumoto for shave ice too. I must admit - I was preparing for a letdown. So many times, I find something talked up so much, there is no way it can ever live up to the hype. This was not one of those times. The scampi style shrimp we had was absolutely delicious. Great flavor on the shrimp cooked just right. White rice with the sauteed/fried garlic/(sauce too?) on top was not just a boring accompaniment; this was supposed to be a shrimp snack for us between lunch and dinner, and instead my gf ate all the rice, and I agreed it was very good. They also give lemon, and hot sauce if you ask for it, which was hot enough but not overwhelmingly so. It was $13 for 12 nice sized shrimp with two scoops of white rice. Not cheap, but certainly not out of the ordinary for seafood. Came out in about 5-10 mins. Loved it and would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Vicki C.

    OVER HYPED. Took awhile to find the truck since it was enclosed with several other food trucks. There were a lot of people eating at this food truck and the line was surprisingly long. $13 for the shrimp scampi... the go-to classic that everyone is raving about. Well, I wasn't impressed. Some of my shrimp was overcooked and hard to de-shell. The garlic sauce was only the topping of the shrimp and didn't marinate the actual meat of the shrimp. I thought the best tasting part was the garlic sauce on the rice. Not worth the $13. What was really annoying is that if you ate at the benches provided, swarms of flies would attack your food. Just even opening my make shift foil to-go bag attracted several flies... I ended up eating in the car. The drive to Giovanni's is far from Waikiki, I wouldn't go out of my way to go there unless you're heading to the North Shore or coming back from there. And even then, I'd prob eat somewhere else. Not worth it IMO.

    (2)

  • Rogei M.

    The only shrimp scampi food truck style I will eat! PROS: +Fresh Shrimp caught from the shrimp pawned +Very Tasty Garlic/Buttery CONS: -Far Drive (North Shore of Oahu, 30-45 mins) -Garlic breath for the whole day -Flies all around -Peel your own shrimp, can get messy AMBIANCE: Food truck, sit down picnic table/plate lunch style SERVICE: Nice local girls FOOD: #1 Shrimp Scampi Pate - 12 meaty shrimp drenched in lemon butter, and garlic. Taste great with Hot Sauce on the side and two scoops of white rice (garlic/lemon butter on top). The taste is so RICH! It sounds so disgusting and unhealthy but sometimes you have to indulge! VALUE: $13 for Shrimp plates, $1 canned drinks/water, $1 side rich Worth the drive! Giovanni Shrimp truck is the best food truck around! Original/Classics are always the best! TIPS: Bring extra hand sanitizer, wipes, (be prepared to get your hands dirty), sometimes there faucet of running water isn't working, it's best to be the early bird. Sometimes they can run-out of shrimp (especially during the holidays, and weekends). This is very popular tourist attraction. Overall, I give Giovanni Shrimp Truck 4/5 for the amazing tasty shrimp! Wish they had a shrimp truck around town area.

    (4)

  • Benjamin G.

    Gotta get that shrimp scampi! You get 12 large shrimps with 2 scoop of rice for $13 can't beat that! Had to drive to get to the truck but was worth it!

    (5)

  • Dottie A.

    A local told us that Giovanni's was THE place to go for shrimp plates and man they were right. Though the line can get quite long but the service is quick and efficient. The shrimp scampi is a MUST and an order of the spicy shrimp too, though be careful, its freaking atomic! Can't wait to go back for more!

    (4)

  • Cindy W.

    Yum yum yum YUM! When the boyfriend took me here, I thought this place would be overrated and the food would just be okay. Glad I was wrong :) Definitely get the shrimp scampi with hot sauce on the side. The flavors kind of remind me of the "whole sha-bang" sauce at Boiling Crab! Lol. I love how there's a lot of flavor to the shrimp and I didn't mind peeling my shrimp at all because it was so delicious! The service was fast & friendly too. They also offer half portions where you only get 6 shrimp and a scoop of rice. So glad I didn't get a half portion! Lol. If I'm ever in the area again, will definitely get myself an order of their shrimp scampi! I'm just salivating at the thought of it :)

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Great food at a great price. Nice shaded tables to sit at or take out available.

    (3)

  • Joe M.

    No, no, no... I had heard so much about this place and they are always mentioned on TV... tried the Scampi and the Hot & Spicy - both were bad... get some butter and garlic and pan fry the shrimp in a ton of butter and you get the same thing... the Hot & Spicy was this weird kind of sour like maybe something had gone bad... the rice was also a gloppy mess, they shouldn't necessarily throw it away but but to charge and serve it to the customers was a bit much, like they didn't care about their reputation... it was so disappointing...

    (1)

  • Anna H.

    I turn into another being when I eat at Giovanni's. My husband has to prepare himself to watch me devour the dozen pieces of garlic-buttery morsels of seafood heaven. He knows he cannot bother me when I'm in "the zone" of eating my plate of Giovanni's and he usually tentatively asks me if he can have a piece of shrimp knowing that I may just slap his hand out of the way. I've gotten sick eating so much of this stuff, but it was totally worth it. Needless to say, Giovanni's is something I look forward to every trip back to Hawaii. When we take a trip to the North Shore, this is my first stop. I get a plate of the dozen garlic shrimp to-go so that I can eat it while my husband gets his Kua 'Aina burger (also very good, but not as much as Giovanni's). I tried another shrimp truck once just to mix it up and it just wasn't as good. Giovanni's will always have a special place in my heart...and stomach.

    (5)

  • Aimee A.

    (Note: this review is for the truck in Haleiwa, not Kahuku! Don't be a dork like me and confuse the two.) Stopped off here on a friend's recommendation on the way to the North Shore from Waikiki. We just wanted a quick bite to eat, having had a huge buffet breakfast only a few hours before. My in-laws (from out of the country) claimed not to be hungry at all as we walked up to the ratty food truck. We got 2 plates to share between 4 adults and a toddler. Once we were almost done with the plates, the in-laws decided to get in a now-longer line for another plate! The scampi was a favorite; I loved that it was greasy and garlicky. Shrimp was quite good and were easy-peel. Loved that we ate outdoors. Didn't love that parking was tricky, that there was no place to wash my hands before or after (or if there was, I don't know where), that there was no compost bin (but this seems common on the islands), and that there were flies I had to shoo off--not hundreds of them, but just one or two, and that can be annoying enough. I don't know if I'd go out of the way just to eat here, but if you're passing through Haleiwa town anyway, it's definitely worth a stop if you've got a hankering for tasty shrimp and rice. Just be ready with wet wipes.

    (3)

  • Ant C.

    Coming in I was thinking it would be difficult for Giovanni's to live up to all the hype I had been hearing, but boy was I wrong, and in a good way. Easily, and it's not even close, the best meal I had while I visited Oahu. The truck itself is in a small lot, with a bunch of other food trucks. We went with the scampi and I also tried the garlic hot dog. The scampi - the juice/sauce they had great flavor to it and just enough, but not to much to put on the rice. They also put this little garlic mixture over the rice which just puts it over the top. The mac salad they serve with it was also the best mac salad I had while i was in hawaii. By the time I got to the hot dog I was already on garlic overload so I didnt get to enjoy it as much, but it must have been marinated in their garlic sauce cause it was screaming garlic. I only regret not being able to make it up back to north shore to have it again while i was on vacation. This is def a must try while your in hawaii.

    (5)

  • Rachel F.

    There is a point in preparing food, even shrimp scampi, when the addition of butter/oil/grease no longer enhances the flavor but rather amplifies the gastrointestinal distress. Giovanni's was about three ladles of grease past that point. No, I won't be returning when next I visit my family on the island.

    (1)

  • Kim T.

    My boyfriend and I always take our friends recommendations into consideration in places to try but we don't always trust them. This place was one that we should have trusted from our friend. It really is a truck in a dirt parking lot but do not let the appearance fool you. The food was so delicious that we felt bad for ordering half orders. We should have each ordered two WHOLE orders so we can eat one there and eat one on the way back to Waikiki. Order the Shrimp Scampi Dish, Heck, order every dish if possible! We tried to recreate the dish when we went back home, it's not the same. =(

    (5)

  • Daisy R.

    My expectations were really high after reading all these yelp reviews and my friends recommending Giovanni's. My hubby had the spicy shrimp and I had the scampi with a side a side of Mac salad. heh I tried hubby's and it was very flavorful and super spicy. My scampi was really buttery and very flavorful as well and cooked to perfection. The Mac salad is bomb!!! I did think their rice a bit over done which is why it's more of a 3.5 star review. If you check in on yelp you get a free drink!

    (3)

  • Regten D.

    The garlic shrimp was delicious didnt expect it to be deveined. its even better when u put the lemon on it. the price was ok for the 12 pieces of shrimp

    (4)

  • Jonny R.

    SPICY SHRIMP! Great service! Long lines, that actually move fairly quick! Down side was the sitting arrangements and that they're not open late. If you have the time for a 20 min drive north, go there, way less crowded either way can't go wrong.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I came here three times during my time in Hawaii, and each time I wanted to scream: THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! This place is awesome, this place is awesome...did I mention this place is awesome? Awesome. $13 gets you a dozen juicy shrimp and two scoops of white rice (I don't know how the Hawaiians cook it, but I gotta say...I have never loved white rice more), all covered in this delicious, sweet garlicky sauce. Giovanni's cooks down the garlic with butter, olive oil and other sinful things until it resembles a sort of chutney. The sharpness of the garlic is cooked out, leaving the sweet, flavorful essence, which blends perfectly with the texture and taste of the shrimp and rice. This is not elegant (the shrimp come unpeeled, so be prepared to get in there with your hands!) or healthy (ignorance is bliss, folks...but there is a TON of butter in there), but it is hands down the best. Don't miss this place if you're in town, and don't forget to bring CASH!

    (5)

  • Joshua A.

    Shrimp was so amazingly fresh, delicious, and tender. Garlic shrimp scampi was absolutely amazing, so much so that I had to try their hot and spicy shrimp. Nearly went blind and had a paralyzed mouth but it was well worth it!!!! You have to try this shrimp!

    (5)

  • Marcus L.

    Summary: The shrimp was fresh and tasty but its so hard to eat with all the damn flies flying around. I had to walk away from the tables and stand in the middle of the parking lot to get away from the flies. I'd bring wet naps. There isn't really a place to wash your hands after you eat. I'd give this place a solid 4 but it's so uncomfortable eating there. Food: Menu item #1 Shrimp Scampi Very fresh and tasty shrimp. Service: Food is served out of a truck. Service doesn't really play much of a part here. You order, pay and she hands you your food. Parking: Parking lot. Not bad.

    (3)

  • Ashley S.

    I was so looking forward to trying Giovanni's, but it was disappointing. Maybe because I tried a different shrimp truck prior to Giovanni's, but it just grossed me out. I get that the shrimp isn't peeled, but every single one I got wasn't deveined. I'm glad I only got a half plate. I got the garlic shrimp and my husband, unfortunately, got the super spicy shrimp. That was his fault that he tried it and I don't rate them badly for that. They warn you that it's spicy. As for the mac salad... Really? All you get for $1.50 is like a 1/4 cup. REALLY? Come on! I liked the other place better.

    (2)

  • Julie Z.

    the best shrimp truck. So flavorful, we had the hot n spicy shrimp and the shrimp scampi. Both were so good! The line was not long, however about 15 min later, it was a long line. I'm really happy that my friend took me here. I think as a tourist, you wouldn't really think about stopping at a food truck vs a real restaurant. So glad that I did. The only draw back are the flies swarming around your food as you eat. The $$ is reasonable but I heard they raised their prices over the years. Overall, a gem of north shore. I would definitely come back here again!

    (4)

  • Christa B.

    If you like spicy, they give you spicy! Excellent fat, juicy shrimp. Nice service. Clean outdoor seating. Stopping by the shrimp trucks is a must do when up by north shore! Gets crowded on the weekends so parking and traffic can be difficult.

    (3)

  • Rachel W.

    My husband and I stopped at the Giovanni's food truck here in Haleiwa because we had heard it was a bit iconic and the food was good. I ordered the shrimp scampi because I love garlic and butter and shrimp, all three must be excellent! I am disappointed to say that the shrimp were not good. The wait was easy, but when the shrimp showed up they were swimming in oil, not butter. While eating them, I noticed the texture was rubbery, and the oil and garlic tasted burnt. Not sure if I just got a bad batch, but they were awful. My husband's shrimp from the Dat Cajun truck were much better, not rubbery and not oily and burnt!

    (2)

  • Jade T.

    Yes! Heaven on a plate! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Now we're talkin, Shrimp! Yay! OMG, I've been seriously missing out these past years :-( I'm a Shrimp Junkie! I Just Love, Love, Love, Love Shrimp!! If I could add more Stars I would! That's how good these Shrimps are! If you pass up this truck without trying their Yummy Garlic Shrimp Scampi, you're definitely missing out! The plate was Full of Large and Juicy Shrimp, and the rice was also drenched in Garlic Butter Sauce too, yes!! Next time you're heading out to North Shore and haven't had lunch, look for Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. Park, order your food, then grab a seat at one of their picnic tables with flies buzzing all around, yikes! But we didn't care, we just devoured our Shrimp, because it was that Delicious! A trip to the North Shore just to eat Scampi Shrimp, is so worth it! Can't wait to go back! Giovanni I Miss You :-( ***CASH ONLY

    (5)

  • Darina H.

    I think I have gone to HEAVEN and BACK after my experience at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. My husband and I were in the North Shore area and NEEDED (yes NEEDED) to stop by Giovanni's for shrimp! Yes, park in the dirt parking lot and walk to the food truck. You will notice Giovanni's is next to a few other food trucks but Giovanni's is probably the busiest establishment around. My recommendation is to USE THE RESTROOM before you get here otherwise you have to experience the malodoriousness of their porter potties. Anyway, there are a few options here but we initially ordered the lemon butter shrimp and the shrimp scampi dish. Both come with two scoops of rice. We enjoyed the lemon butter shrimp but definitely LOVED the shrimp scampi THAT much better. Both dishes run about $13 each (cash only) and totally worth it. After our lemon butter shrimp and our shrimp scampi my husband and I were STILL hungry. Yes, call me piggy but we ordered a THIRD dish (another shrimp scampi) and ate ourselves away. Loved the flavor of the scampi with garlic everywhere including on top of the rice. Ask for the free hot sauce on the side if you need it. So delicious and I am having withdrawal now that I am back on the mainland. I need more Giovanni's!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Amy G.

    I don't think i've ever consumed so much better and been ok with it for once in my life. One of those let loose and just do it kinda moments (i've been trying to eat healthy but when do i ever go to the north shore?) it's one of those "must eat" when in hawaii just because. its so simple in ingredients and cooking, yet its so delicious, which might actually be the reason why its so good, yet so bad for you. its easy to find. once done with Dole plantation, take a right and continue for a few minutes. it'll be on your right. i planned the trip so we'll get there by 11ish, right before the crowd comes. our wait was about 2 min and we had all the choices for tables :)

    (4)

  • Benny N.

    If you can't eat shrimp, you're gonna have a hard time here. My friends all came here, and I'm not supposed to eat shrimp. I had the hot dog. It is heavily laced with garlic and its delicious. I had the garlic hit dog and the Mac and cheese for $5.

    (4)

  • Lana T.

    The Shrimp Scampi was delicous. (If you like HOT, order the hot chili sauce on the side) It's worth the hype and the stop over. Just stop and try and trust the reviews.

    (4)

  • Sharon N.

    Not bad, but not as good as the Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku. The Shrimp Scampi doesn't have anywhere near as much garlic as the Kahuku location, but it's still good...meh...it's okay. The only plus is that it's a lot closer for us to drive to this Haleiwa location than the Kahuku one. So somethings gotta give. If you don't want to drive all the way to Kahuku, this is good enough. Plus, it's in beautiful Haleiwa. Otherwise, I'd rather drive the extra 30 minutes to go to Kahuku. Wish I could give this place a 3 1/2 star rating.

    (3)

  • Scott H.

    The shrimp are good... real good. But the atmosphere is lacking- I know were eating out of trucks but can you clean the picnic tables once an hour at least... They were gross. I also have a hard time spending this kind of money for unpeeled shrimp...

    (2)

  • Bob L.

    Your website says you're open 10:30am-6:30 EVERY DAY! I was just there today, Saturday, June 16th, 2012, at 5:30pm and your truck was already closed, cleaned up, and abandoned!!! :-( (I asked a worker from a nearby truck what time you closed and she replied, "5".) Either your website has faulty information, OR your workers closed up shop a full 1-1/2 hrs early! I left Waikiki via bus (52 to 55), just to try your "world-famous" shrimp. I was SORELY disappointed that my 2-1/2 hr trek and journey was lacking in any seafood satisfaction! This reflects POORLY on your business, especially for the tourist making a day trip up to the North Shore for the express purpose of experiencing a supposedly amazing meal. Next time I WON'T put forth the effort since it may be a gamble if you're even open. --VERY DISGRUNTLED SHRIMP-LOVING TOURIST

    (1)

  • marie t.

    Great flavor, fresh shrimp. Had the scampi - loads of flavor and the aroma while you're standing in line will drive you crazy - especially if you're hungry. Long lines but they move quick. Love the way they top the rice with sautéed garlic. Yummy, just make sure everyone in your party orders the same thing then they won't mind your breath lol. Best- shrimp scampi Worst - take it to go, flies will drive you crazy

    (4)

  • Kevin L.

    Outstanding. But the drive was far, the GPS said I arrived, but it was a coconut stand. The man was nice enough to tell me it was 2 miles up the road.

    (5)

  • Jay J.

    The shrimp scampi was by far one of the best, if not THE best, shrimp that I've ever had (and I've traveled all over the place with the military). I ate at a few food trucks while I was in Hawaii, but none of them even compare to Giovanni's! The taste was outstanding and the service was surprisingly fast. My only regret about going there is not being able to go back before we left Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Christina W.

    Choose this shrimp truck! There are a lot on north shore but you need this one! The scampi is amazing. Tender shrimp, lots of garlic, super flavorful. The lemon butter is more subtle, but also good - plain cooked shrimp with a lemon butter sauce to dip in. I absolutely love that they offer half-plates for those of us who can't eat more than 6 shrimp at a time! I went to both trucks during our vaca!

    (5)

  • Joie G.

    Yum! Yummy shrimp and garlic shrimp. A dozen shrimp makes me happy on any day. We took my mom, aunt and the boys here right before driving around North Shore. We were very satisfied. We did pre-funk our meal with shave ice from Matsumotos.

    (4)

  • Jim G.

    Don't get the hot and spicy shrimp. It is utterly disgusting. Tastes purely of tabasco sauce. Inedible. Go down the street to Macky's. The hot and spicy shrimp there is to die for.

    (1)

  • Jack R.

    This is a decent place for shrimp while you're up in the north shore / haleiwa area. Id suggest getting the hot sauce on the side as it may actually be a bit too hot for most people. There isnt an available restroom so you have to cross the street to McDs if you need to go. You can also enjoy all the chickens running around.

    (4)

  • Holly B.

    I've tried just about every shrimp truck on the North Shore and Giovanni's is the BEST! The scampi is perfect with lots of garlic; ask for the hot sauce on the side! Wow! We bring out-of-town friends here (both Haleiwa and Kahuku) all the time. And when we're in the mood for shrimp, we cruise on out and enjoy the drive and the food.

    (5)

  • Stella H.

    This place was absolutely AMAZING!!! This was the place I was dying to go to on my trip to Hawaii. The size of the shrimp and the flavors were grreeaatttt. If you're ever in Hawaii, if you don't make a stop here, you just missed the entire food experience.

    (5)

  • Cindy C.

    4.2 Stars Yes!! Round Two. We went to a different Giovanni's shrimp Truck. We ordered one garlic, spicy shrimp scampi along with one garlic hot dog. First off, the garlic hot dog with 2 scoops of rice was very cheap- only $3. The garlic shrimp scampi still very good, and spicy shrimp scampi at this location was doable- manageable spiciness unlike the other location. Next time, I will tried the other shrimp trucks to compare.

    (4)

  • Alice C.

    If you want the real deal, I highly suggest going to the Kahuku Giovanni truck instead. I went on Memorial day and we went to the Haleiwa location because there was really bad traffic heading straight to Kahuku. for $13 and you strictly get shrimp and rice.. It is pricy. I had the garlic shrimp which to me was just okay. my boyfriend had the lemon butter which he said was pretty much shrimp you dip in to butter and you squeeze the lemon over. Its something you could do at home. my friend had the spicy plate and he said it tasted like shrimp with tobasco. Nothing too special. Thats our honest opinions. Maybe it was the wrong day to go since it was insanely busy everywhere and maybe the workers were in a holiday mood but I would just go to kahuku's Giovanni to be safe next time.

    (2)

  • Adam M.

    Food was lukewarm, ate it against my better judgment and got food poisoning... Do not recommend.

    (1)

  • Amber B.

    We had the original scampi and the spicy shrimp. The original was great. The spicy was not too hot for me, but it was very vinegar-y. It has no butter to cut the vinegar, which I would have personally preferred. Easy fix, though. Next time, I will get the original with a side of hot sauce. The rice is nice and sticky, although a bit bland. Extra garlic on the rice is a must. In addition to the food being great, so is the atmosphere around the old food truck. There are communal tables and although there was a long line when we were there midweek, we had no trouble getting seats for two. There are also chickens and a rooster wandering around, which nicely rounds out the experience. It is worth the drive from wherever you are on the island!

    (4)

  • N C.

    I dont get it, this place is sub-par at best. Shrimp were overcooked and of poor quality to start with. The flavor is made of cheap ingredients and you can make it at home. When tourists go to hawaii they drink some sort of kool-aid that makes them think everything tastes good when it doesnt, I will happily never eat here again not to mention the people working acted like entitled d-bags as if i should be so lucky to eat there. seriously dont ever believe reviews on yelp about anywhere in hawaii

    (2)

  • Joshua P.

    I was very disappointed . I had been to North shore a few times and Mackys is usually the place of my choice I love the spicy shrimp there. I ordered the same at Gios but it just wasn't very good it tasted like tobasco and Lemon juice. There were a lot of flys and the wind was knocking debri from the trees into my food also. But one thing is for sure if it wasn't for Gios I would have never found the Snow Factory truck that is just to the left of Gios. Some of the best shave ice I have ever had.

    (3)

  • Rhoelyn C.

    This truck deserves a thumbs up for taste.For atmosphere...not so much.I went to the Haleiwa location and couldn't find soap or paper towels in their sink but the lady at the counter said we could wash our hands there/sanitize..nevermind that the same sink was used to wash a dirty mop (it was brownish black) and there was chicken poop that lined the sink. I didn't mind this as much as the swarm of flies that kept landing on my food.Who knows where they landed before? There was bird poop from the chickens walking around that I saw the flies swarm over.I don't understand.This business is highly profitable, so why can't they provide more sanitary conditions for their customers? Here I am with food poisoning (my stomach was fine until I ate here.My symptoms started 2 hours after I ate Giovanni's, which usually occurs with food poisoning) and given the unsanitary conditions there ,I can safely assume Giovanni's shrimp truck caused my food poisoning. After a trip to the doctor I found I was infected with SALMONELLA. I told him about the baby chicks that were at Giovanni's and he said he's treated people with food poisioning from Giovanni's before. I know there's a lot of hype about shrimp trucks, but beware of unsanitary conditions like at the Haleiwa Giovanni's.I'd rather go to Romy's or shrimp trucks in Kahuku that are MUCH more sanitary.

    (2)

  • Keoni U.

    It's closer to my house and tastes the same as the Kahuku location. Lots of other food trucks around. Didn't seem too crowded compared to Kahuku. Only drawback like others have said is the flies! Eat by the covered area in the blue tables. Less flies there!

    (3)

  • Jen N.

    Back in California, I am a frequent visitor to all the cajun restaurants. I'm from Louisiana!!! Growing up all I did was eat crawfish and shrimp.... SO when my friends knew I was coming to Oahu....everyone told me.... When you go to the North Shore you gotta try shrimp truck!! So I did. I hear a lot of talk about this shrimp truck. Finally towards the end of our trip, we headed to North Shore to do the Share tour with North Shore Sharks Adventure (check out those pics I uploaded!) After the tour, my gf and I needed to eat. So we found Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. My first reaction.... does that even PASS the department of health standards? ugh.... It looked disgusting. However I put that feeling beside me because I was even more amaze by how many people were around. The area is a little food truck court. There were 6-7 food trucks/trailers but definitely Giovanni's was the busiest. I stood there for a few minutes just reviewing my options. I went for the shrimp scampi. The food came out quickly... thank goodness because I was starving!!! After seeing sharks that day and getting sea sick, I was dying for food. The food looked great... the food smelled great. The real question was, did it tasted great?! My reaction: great flavor.... but the shrimp was overcooked. However it seemed to be their style. The rice was horrible and the mac salad was ok. Shrimp should be pink not red. Pink has more moisture in it still so when you boil shrimp you dump your shrimp in hot water and once you start to see it curl and turn in color, you need to pull it out right away. While it's sitting outside it's still cooking. This is a personal preference! I gave a 3 star because it's A-OK. I'll come back but I'll definitely be trying a few others before I have another shrimp plate at Giovanni's!!! p.s. I like Macky's better.

    (3)

  • Vince J.

    I ordered the spicy and scampy, and wowa wee wuhhh that spicy is spicy. I can handle spicy but this was the type where you can not even enjoy your food. I suggest you play it safe and just order the scampi which is decent. They give you like 2 tiny scoops of rice along with the shrimp. I do not know what all the hype is about but anyway.... I highly suggest you try another shrimp truck out, it's less than 5 minutes away. Just head north. It is called BLUE WATER SHRIMP AND SEAFOOD. Better sauce and cheaper! Read my review on it, in my opinion it tastes way better. CASH ONLY

    (3)

  • Malia B.

    Today was my very first eating at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. I had a choice to choose between eating in Haleiwa or Kahuku (they are famous for being in kahuku) but it being Memorial Day, the heat, the traffic, the screaming, crying, forever questioning kids, we settled for this truck in Haleiwa. The lines went down pretty fast. The outside does not look so appetizing at all but I guess the random graffiti on this shrimp truck leaves much to the imagination. There's an approximate of 6 tables, which were all filled but thank God by the time we got our food one table was cleared and ready for us to get our grub on. SHRIMP SCAMPI = THE BOMB DOT COM Like seriously, I am one who does not care for shrimp. If it's there, I'll eat it but I don't crave it. AND I am not a garlic person, I don't care for it; if it's there it's there, you know? But this plate totally changed my taste bud's perspective on garlic and shrimp. The flavors, especially with the garlic pieces all over the two scoops of rice was awesome, no wonder why people were ordering extra rice on the side. Loved it! I cannot say enough about this place but TRY IT! You'll love it!

    (5)

  • Elaine T.

    I get so excited just thinking about the SHRIMP SCAMPI plate at Giovanni's! I always make sure to stop by EVERY time I'm out here. This is easily one of my favorite things to eat when I visit Hawaii (possibly one of my favorite things to eat, PERIOD). I LOVE GARLIC! If you don't like garlic, you may want to opt for something else. There is a generous amount of their delicious garlic-loaded scampi sauce all over the shrimp AND rice. A full plate comes with a dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice. SO GOOD. (Note: the intense flavor and saltiness sometimes gives me a headache, but it is SO worth it. :D) For shrimp truck newbies, this is definitely a MUST TRY. Get your own plate. Do not share. Eat with your hands. Lick your fingers. No one will judge you.

    (5)

  • Vira P.

    I always.. ALWAYS make a trip to Kahuku to get my shrimp on at Giovanni's shrimp truck! My favorite is the lemon butter. And I did try other shrimp trucks, but I found Giovanni's to be the best. Plus, the garlic hot dog is really good too. One note, their prices have been getting higher over the years. Not sure whether it's from all the publicity or the economy.. Make sure to check in on Yelp so you can get a free soda! sexydishes.blogspot.com/…

    (5)

  • Angela D.

    Been here a couple of times, both times having the shrimp scampi. I love all the garlic! I love the shrimp, but have to give them four stars because they could improve on their customer service.

    (4)

  • Angela P.

    So delicious, had this on my to-do list & randomly spotted it touring Island with family. Scampi & garlic rice are super yummy & super messy! It's a little pricey, a little crowded, & be prepared to wait, but still worth it. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Jackie V.

    The two-star "meh" pretty much sums things up. It's a shrimp food truck - like others have said, you go for the experience of waiting in line for 35 minutes, getting your piping hot food, finding a slice of white space of the graffiti'd truck exterior to sign your name to prove that you, yes YOU, were here in Haleiwa, eating shrimp roadside with 110 of your new best friends. Hubby ate here and gave the official "meh" shrug as his review. Bottom line: if it's on the Enterprise Rent-a-Car list of "Places to Go in Oahu", you know you'll find a boatload of tourists lined up to drop some cash on "the best" quick lunch on the north shore.

    (2)

  • Denise K.

    I can't get enough of the garlic shrimp scampi! I love it!

    (5)

  • tabisky c.

    There was a short line when we placed our order of #1. By the time we were finished, there was a line of mostly Japanese tourists. I did not enjoy this meal at all. It was too garlicky and oily plus the rice was some leftover rice from the day before.

    (1)

  • Diane S.

    Yum! So wort the drive. The garlic is so good. There's a sink to wash your hands. $13 well spent and then you can go to Hawaiian shaved ice at something motos just up the street. Lots of parking here. Rosters walking around :)

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    I have gone to Giovanni's shrimp truck up north but never in Haleiwa. We were actually looking for Macky's shrimp trunk since I had heard it was really good but my peeps were hungry and they saw the three food trucks and yelled STOP! I have never been disappointed going to Giovanni's. We got the #1 Shrimp Scampi which, as always, was excellent. Only down side.. This was our first time at this location and it had tons of flies:-(

    (4)

  • Glenn L.

    Giovanni's Shrimp truck... CHECK! Giovanni's was definitely on our list of places to eat at during our trip in Hawaii! It is very popular and we were told that it is the best shrimp truck in The North Shore area. There were multiple food trucks parked in an area and Giovanni's was one of them! The seats outside the Giovanni's truck were filled with people eating or waiting for their order! I guess that's a good sign! Since there were three of us who haven't tried Giovanni's we decided to get one of each of the shrimp plates... (shrimp scampi, lemon butter shrimp, and hot & spicy shrimp). Each plate is $13! Out of the three the shrimp scampi is my favorite! lemon butter not so much, and the hot spicy was just too spicy for me.

    (4)

  • Dave L.

    Lots of hype on this place. I was recommended by a lot of people and thought it was going to be the best shrimp ever. The taste was OK. I've had better asian marinated shrimp before.

    (3)

  • Rachel G.

    Travelled all the way here from Waikiki just to try this shrimp truck and boy I wasn't disappointed. I was scared by the "No refunds hot and spicy shrimp plate" so I opted to go with the customer favorite- Shrimp Scampi. One order provides a heaping plate of a dozen large plump juicy shrimp and two scoops of white rice smothered in their buttery VERY garlicy scampi sauce. You could literally drink their scampi sauce it was that good. But prepared to get messy and roll up your sleeves because you have to peel the shrimp yourself- but it's definitely worth the work. Delicious! Location: It's a little turn off from the Kamehameha Highway into Old Town Haleiwa. It's off to the side situated next to a bunch of other food trucks that I didn't even give a second look to. Big plus- there are picnic tables to enjoy your food! Normally with food trucks you have to eat in your lap or eat standing which I hate.

    (5)

  • Lynette T.

    We passed by the other Giovanni's, saw the crowd and decided to continue further down the highway to this truck instead. Despite the pesky flies and the porta-potties being pumped empty while we were eating, WE LOVED OUR FOOD!!!! My sensitive stomach doesn't like butter these days, but I HAD to indulge. Experiencing a shrimp truck along the North Shore is a tourist must-do. Yeah, even though I ate only five shrimps knowing that I'd most likely (and I did) get one heck of an upset stomach, those tasty-juicy-fresh shrimps were worth the biri-biri and toot-toot-toots I had for hours after. It's very rare for me to voluntarily put myself through that, but I'm glad I did. The smell of the buttery garlic of our scampi made me giddy. yelp.com/biz_photos/lZ2F… It was so hard to not eat all 12 of those shrimps. That guy I married decided to be concerned for my well-being and ate the other 7. He sure gets helpful at times like this. I'm glad we did go the extra distance to try this truck. yelp.com/biz_photos/lZ2F… If I had a Sharpie, I might have added our names to the grafitti! There was less of a crowd which made us feel less touristy. The young lady manning the truck was so friendly. We ate in a tree-lined lot on picnic tables with a lovely cool breeze flowing through. Also met a fantastic couple from South Carolina whom we had fun chatting with before & during our meal. Out of all the meals on our vacation, this one was right at the top! *garlic burp*

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Some of the freshest shrimp I have ever tasted! And the portions are crazy generous! Each plate comes with 12 large shrimp and two scoops of rice, everything soaked in a delicious garlic scampi sauce. There are fairly large chunks of garlic on everything, so you better like garlic! I have crazy indigestion right now because of all the garlic, but I'd do it again! This place reminds me of a Hawaiian Boiling Crab. The scampi garlic seasoning was very reminiscent of the "whole she-bang". SOY SAUCE!!! My one recommendation is that you sprinkle soy sauce over your whole plate. It makes everything better! Coming back again for sure!

    (4)

  • Erica R.

    Kinda an obligatory stop for my friend and I as we were traveling to the North Shore. Sadly, we forgot a sharpie or anything, so we couldn't do the typical tourist thing and write on the truck...but since we're food truck fans? Yeah, we stopped anyway. Giovanni's is a super-hyped truck. Probably over-hyped. For one, the line to order is long...longer than any other truck I've seen while on the island. This doesn't necessarily mean anything though in terms of the quality of the food, which we found out. My friend and I both ordered our food (garlic hot dogs for both of us - we were both kinda "shrimped out" by this time), and had to wait for our ticket numbers to be called in order to pick up our food. The wait to GET the food was much, much longer than expected. LONG. Our garlic hot dogs were pretty good, but I wouldn't consider them worth the wait from this truck. I was listening to others while they were eating their shrimp plates and such at neighboring tables too. It seemed the shrimp scampi was the most popular and well-liked. The lemon butter shrimp seemed to have mixed reviews/reactions. I obviously can't speak for these people, but the reactions that folks were having didn't really entice me to want to come back to this truck. Really, Giovanni's is more of a novelty / "must do" stop while on the island. Is the food worth it? Eh. But at least you can say you tried the stop at least once.

    (2)

  • Gary V.

    First time at Giovanni's after hearing lots of positives. Had Fumi's the day before which was good. Went to Giovanni's at 10:15 am but they didn't open til 10:30. Came back at 10:40 am and the line was long and the wait to get the food after ordering was 30-45 mins. Once we got the scampi plate, it was ok but not great. Also, the flies are a HUGE problem. Overall an OK experience but I won't be going back.

    (3)

  • Allysa D.

    Giovanni's has two locations, one at Haleiwa (near Waimea Bay, if you want to take a swim afterwards at an excellent beach) and the other at Kahuku. The garlic shrimp is amazing - we have always gotten the original (there's other kinds like spicy hot). We have also had the hotdog w/ rice also smothered in garlic and that was great as well. The 1st place is less touristy and off the road. However it had a lot of flies swarming around while we were eating, which made it a bit annoying but we didn't really mind. The other place is a lot bigger in terms of seating.

    (4)

  • Andie H.

    I dream of Giovanni's. Its such a pain-in-the-butt for my city-girl butt to drive to Haleiwa just to fulfill my monthly dreams of Kahuku shrimp. Ok--I make the bf drive, always. And its always our stop when we decide to be adventurous and get lost out there. Numba one suggestion--the Shrimp Scampi. Yessir. Garlic, garlic, garlic. Ask for hot sauce on the side, and broke da mouth. Its pricey, $13-14 for 12 shrimps and 2 small scoop rice. I dont care. I just want my shrimp. Keep in mind you are eating outside, there are chickens looking for their next meal, and the flies...they'll eat your food for you if you dont watch out. Parking can be iffy, on a good day it can get crowded. I witnessed a titah crash into a jeep because she wasn't paying attention. Plenty rental cars. Sometimes its make your own parking. I'm a true fan of Giovannis. I don't care how long the line, how crappy parking is, or how expensive the plates are. I will continue to go here, reeking of garlicky goodness.

    (4)

  • Carla C.

    I did not want to come here, but we were starving after skydiving, and this was the closest place on my friend's list of places to try. But I must say, after all the hype, I was greatly disappointed. Seating was easy, surprisingly, but our group had to sit at two adjacent tables - no biggie. Parking is a little tight, but I don't really see double parking being a problem since the bench seating is right next to all of the cars. The shrimp. I have to be honest. I've had better. Even at home I've had better, and I'm not an expert in the kitchen. I love shrimp! But not here. Yes - the shrimp itself was fresh... but, hello, the draw is supposed to be this all this Lemon Butter talk. Not impressed. Also, for $13, I expect a bit more shrimp, especially considering the fact it only came with two big scoops of white rice. The rice was also kind of room temp, which is cold for me. Some of my friends ordered the Lemon Butter, others ordered the Hot + Spicy. Needless to say, I didn't hear anyone raving about the food. The worst part: I love casual eats, but this place was gross. There were an insane amount of flies (big ones) everywhere. It really took away from the experience. I just wanted to eat as fast as I could so we could get out of there. Only plus was they had an industrial sink behind the truck with soap. I left Giovanni's grossed out, dissatisfied, and hungry! Sad. Safe to say, I will not be coming back here.

    (2)

  • John B.

    Came here due to all the hype, Ordered the Shrimp Scampi. The only good thing about this was that the shrimp was big. It was drenched in oil(butter), felt sick eating half of it. It was a good amount of food for your buck. I was pretty disappointed because we drove up from Waikiki for it, luckily we got to see the beaches around here and got some shaved ice right down the road. Overall for my first experience, I would recommend it because of the hype and I guess it's on your taste buds!

    (2)

  • Camille A.

    Butter and Garlic. How can you go wrong? First I would like to say that this place is not a tourist trap, as many may think. Locals and tourists alike come to eat here and enjoy Giovanni's shrimpy goodness. My bf took me here a couple years ago for the first time and it's always consistently delicious. The shrimp scampi is RICH as heck but that's why we love it. Especially when the sauce gets all over the rice...mmmmm. However, I agree with reviews that say the shrimp is not the most tender ever. This place is not about careful food preparation, but about getting plates out fast. The garlic hot dog is yummy as well. The food is only half the experience of dining here. The drive to North Shore, the anticipation, waiting in the inevitably long line, scouting for a table and getting downright greasy by the end of your meal is all part of the fun! Oh and don't forget to ask for a side of hot sauce with your plate for a kick.

    (4)

  • Sunny L.

    If you like butter [A LOT] and shrimp, this is the place. Giovanni's serves up shrimp like its a hot potato! These are the things I tried: Scampi - 8/10 Laced with butter, the shrimp was toasted and glazed by the scorching butter and garlic. It has a lot of butter [A LOT]; however, it is mighty tasty! Its up there with in terms of shrimp. There butter is soaked up by the rice so it makes it filled with flavor. Its so bad that its so good! Hot and Spicy - 5/10 It was red. It was spicy. and it was hot. Filled with peppery taste, the shrimp was heated. It wasn't complex nor was it excited. It was just okay. Lemon Butter - 4/10 This seemed plain; moreover, a let down. I didn't like it very much. It felt almost boiled. I would skip this. BEWARE OF ATTACKING FLIES!!! There are gangs of them trying to have at it with you food. Eat in you car or somewhere else. Seating is on dirty benches... Pros: Scampi Cons: Flies, Everything else. Stars: 4 Notes: $13 a plate

    (4)

  • Adam S.

    My family had each of the 3 varieties offered. The hot & spicy was not bad, but appeared to be just Asian hot sauce smothered on shrimp...not too hot and left a good, wam feeling afterwards. The scampi is better tasting, definitely the way to go. There is a sink behind the truck to wash your hands afterwards. Also, go with the half-plate if you don't feel that hungry.

    (4)

  • Lisa W.

    You will NOT believe the line. I think this is the longest I've ever waited for food in a truck! I think our total wait was 30 minutes. The line was ridiculous, even on a Wednesday! $13 for a plate, cash only. Just to speed things up, check in through yelp-get a free drink. Also if you order the lemon butter shrimp expect to wait for another 5-10 minutes. They make that on the spot. You can tell everything was really fresh and made to order...but it just means it'll take awhile... it's like a little shrimp festival here. My mom got the spicy shrimp and that was really spicy! Tasted good but make sure you can handle that spice. I got the regular garlic shrimp scampi... everything was really delicious and good at the time, I ate my plate and half of my BF's plate...until several hours later when I had stomach problems and had to rush to the bathroom. My sister had the same problem too and we both ordered the same thing and ate it all (fatties)! And we're pretty sure, like 100% that it was the shrimp because that was our first meal of the day (lunch)... maybe our stomachs aren't fit for this or we got a bad batch because we were right after the other? Sad...*tear drop* Next time hitting up the other shrimp truck to compare!

    (4)

  • Michael Y.

    Soooo good. Get here early ... Long lines form after 12 pm, skip breakfast and load up here.

    (4)

  • Ariel P.

    The shrimp scampi was delicious! The combination of garlic and lemon butter with sticky rice really hit the spot!

    (5)

  • Simon C.

    Atmosphere: it's a food truck off the side of a road outside Haleiwa town. So you can expect too much atmosphere. It feels really gross as there are a lot of flies, but that could be part of the experience I suppose. Food: shrimp is about all they offer, still it's pretty good. Only a couple of different options between the spicy shrimp, shrimp scampi and lemon butter shrimp. My opinion is the the shrimp scampi is the best. Cost: $13 for a plate. Kinda of pricy but again this place mostly caters to tourists so I suppose the price is forgiven. Good to try if you never been there before NOTE: one of the biggest thing I don't care about this place is that they have a really bug (flies) problem due to the out door seating.

    (3)

  • Trevor T.

    Shrimp. Garlic. Butter. Delicious. Those four words sum up your experience at the "original white shrimp truck" on the N. Shore. If you're lucky enough to get there before the huge tourist buses get there, you'll be happily eating some shrimp scampi and sharing your garlic breath with everyone for at least two days! Lunch benches set-up by the truck are a good way to cruise before/after a fun day on the N. Shore surfing/swimming/lounging (maybe you even meet an interesting tourist or two). While it can get a little crazy with long lines/waits, it's great to try this place every so often (as a local) and is a MUST for anyone visiting oahu. NOTE: obviously if you're allergic to shellfish, you should probably stay away. EVERYONE ELSE GO NOM ON SOME SHRIMPIES!!!

    (5)

  • Cee H.

    After reading all the reviews, and hearing about the famousness of Giovanni's shrimp truck, I dragged my fiancé over a mile to reach this shrimp truck, walking along side the road--nearly getting hit. All for the sake of food. We were excited, needless to say, when we had finally reached the McDonalds, crossed the street, and sought out the truck. There were about 5 other ones--Giovanni's was by far the dirtiest. But we wanted to know why it was so famous. We were greeted by a friendly girl who helped us select the local favorite. Shrimp scampi, aka a bunch of butter and garlic. Our excitement quickly soured when my fiancé paying for the food glanced in the truck. The cooking environment was filthy. The counters and cook areas clearly needed a good scrub. Being in health care, this is just a outbreak waiting to happen. But, having strong stomachs we decided to risk it, and hope for the best. We waited for 5 mins for the food, but when we tried to eat it swarms, and swarms of HUGE flies kept attacking us. We honestly had to leave because of this. We ate probably 2 shrimp before we had to give up. I'm seriously concerned about the cleanliness of this place and would NEVER recommend this place to anyone. The only reason it got two stars was because the cashier was so nice. But the establishment and food were wanting. Do yourself a favor. Try a different place.

    (2)

  • Darlene B.

    It was just ehhh for me. I was excited to go here after seeing everyones post about it. I ordered lemon butter and scampi plate. Seriously... its no big deal. Lemon butter I can make at home... matter of fact I can make the scampi too. Scampi was a bit oily to my liking. I love garlic and usually the garlic over powers all other flavors but this time the oil did that. Shrimps were cooked well and pretty big but seriously the flavor was not up to my expectation. All hype. The lady taking the orders was nice. It wasnt too busy for a Monday afternoon. Service was fast. ONLY reason for the extra star. Boiling crab still has the best shrimp to me.

    (2)

  • Becky H.

    Hot and spicy shrimp was overcooked and dry. Sauce was a good flavor. Not unbearable heat.

    (2)

  • Tim B.

    A very good place up get garlic shrimp. Our only disappointment was that when we got there at 11 on a Sunday they were still 30 minutes away from being ready to serve food. Edit 12/26/14 wanted to update my review. Came back in July and food was on point.

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    Honestly, the food is nothing to write home about. It's not bad, but i definitely don't think it's worth the hype, the lines nor the price. $13 for a plate of 10 or so shrimp from a food truck is definitely on the high side. If you're in the area, it won't be a bad place to try for yourself just to say you've had it, but again, in my opinion, nothing to head out of your way for.

    (3)

  • Alexandra T.

    We love this place! The only downside is it can get pretty packed and the line can get long. Cash only!

    (5)

  • Katherine A.

    HOLY COW. This location was quite an experience. A group of 8 of us couldn't make it to the Kahuku location before close so we ended up here with 30 minutes to spare. When we got there, there were flies but not to an extent where I thought it would bother me BUT as soon as I got the shrimp, a swarm of flies attacked me on one side and when I turned around, a peacock was running right at me. So I warn you (as well as other yelpers who have yelped before me): there is no way of escaping the flies. Anyway, the food is absolutely tasty. I've tried the hot & spicy before and didn't get to enjoy the food as much since it REALLY IS SPICY. I LOVE spicy food but I could not hang with their hot & spicy shrimp. I ordered the shrimp scampi this time around and it was soooo goooooood. I knocked off a star because of the flies (they never seem to go away) but Giovanni's is still worthy of 4 stars. If flies really, really bothers you, then I suggest you head to the Kahuku location. There's also more tables in Kahuku. I personally prefer that location but because of time constraint, we ended up here. Still good nonetheless :)

    (4)

  • John V.

    Famous Hawaiian shrimp named after me!! Got to be great right? Well we were told about these shrimp trucks and made it a priority to check this one out on the way up the north shore. After we battled other tourists for parking and proceeded to line up all we noticed were flies by the hundreds. Even the local chicken could be seen running around trying to pick them off. Anyways ordered their shrimp scampi and shrimp were on the large side and very garlicky and oily. Served with two scoops of rice we quickly sat down and soon began fending the flies from our shrimp. Put it this way if you enjoy sitting down and eating with flies all over the place then this is the place for you. Also the garlic is gonna kick your ass or your passengers so enjoy the garliky ride up the coast. Recommend fly swatter when your here and some wet napkins if your a tourist! Seriously maybe try the one up the coast further cause I didn't have time to properly enjoy these.

    (2)

  • P L.

    3.5... Shrimp was very good, but in the same time super greasy and oily. The rice was swimming in oil ..... The location is a bit rundown and dirty. Flies everywhere! Parking is quite small.

    (4)

  • John B.

    I like how the rice soaks up all the flavor. I ate everything I ordered and then when I finished I ate my friends. I didn't like the food (lie).

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    Was so not a fan of this place. My husband and I love trying different food trucks when in Hawaii and shrimp ones are at the top of our list. But this place was awful. We got a plate of the lemon + butter and shrimp scampi and they both were pretty terrible. The lemon and butter was far worse though, the butter wasn't melted and the flavor was just off. Didn't even taste like butter more like margarine and the lemon was definitely not fresh. It had an almost chemically taste to it. I hate wasting food but there was no way to even finish it. The shrimp scampi was ok but just that. Definitely not worth the money or the drive.

    (1)

  • Summer D.

    Drove from the other side of the island just to try Giovanni's and it did not disappoint...me. A group of us tried the hot, garlic, and scampi shrimps. Scampi is definitely the way to go. It comes with garlic piled on but I absolutely loved that. It was so good we were going to go back but was told to try Tita's, which is next door. We decided to do a comparison so got Scampi from here and Garlic from Tita's next door. We ended up with two more plates of scampi from Giovanni's. :) Their shrimp was definitely a better quality at Giovanni's. Might have been an off day for Tita's. The two are different sauces but the difference in shrimp quality is what made up our minds.

    (5)

  • JoAnn M.

    Others raved; I'm glad I tried it, but I didn't love it. I like garlic, but it was too strong for me. There was a smoothie truck next truck over, however, that had the most awesome banana-coconut smoothie!!!

    (3)

  • Sabrina C.

    We drove all of the way to North Shore as Giovanni's was very highly recommended. It was a very cold, windy day in December. but it was still a beautiful drive getting there. It was cool to see the business operating out of a truck with graffiti on it. Very distinct and unique. We ordered the lemon butter and garlic shrimp as well as the garlic hotdog. I think my kids liked the hot dog best. The garlic shrimp had excellent flavor, but we did not like having to take the skin off the shrimp. We are used to having the skin already off in California. The prices were okay... $13/plate for 12 shrimp. Kind of pricy that we ended up spending $33 bucks for just appetizers between the five of us. The shrimp is served with two scoops of rice and also macaroni salad. Guess this is the Hawaiian combination, but I say it's too much starch, and the flavors don't go together! Good place, but not outstanding.

    (3)

  • Tri H.

    Wow. Shrimp scampi rocks! It is a tattoo food truck that looks sketchy but don't be fooled. The only bummer is they don't sell beer here (though my brother picked up beer and the cook should us how to open the bottle with a lighter). Needless to say we got another round and scampi and drank it with beers. Oh my! The friends and guide books don't lead you wrong on this one...

    (5)

  • Justin R.

    Came here to try the Giovanni Shrimp truck at least once before going back to college again for another term. Was delicious! Only concern of course is the price for the amount and seating. For 13 dollars I would hope to get more than shrimp and two scoops of rice! I ended up purchasing an extra 1.50 for mac salad and went across the street to Lanikai Juice to get a drink. Shrimp Scampi is their famous one so I gave it a shot. I can see why people enjoy it but it is also a one time deal for me. I would say give it a shot at least once to say you've hit this icon. If you like it, you're welcome. If you want just that one time, well then can't say I didn't tell you so!

    (3)

  • Joy N.

    This is such a wonderful treat when you are going around the island. There are two locations, but I prefer to go to the one in Haleiwa. This site is a little smaller, but the service is great even when they are busy. The shrimp is just delectable!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have other choices than the scampi, but if it is your first time trying it, get the scampi with the hot sauce on the side. As I have said in my other reviews, I am weaksauce when it comes to spicy foods, but this sauce really complements the scampi. They slather the scampi sauce onto the rice which soaks it up and makes every bite so yummo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Jaye L.

    After reading all the glowing reviews here, I was expecting so much more! I really wanted to like this place especially since the North Shore is quite a drive from Waikiki!! My group ordered all three entrees (hot & spicy, scampi, and lemon butter) at $13 each.. We were all rather disappointed because the overcooked shrimp tasted like the ones you can buy frozen from Costco. I won't even bother going into detail about the customer service & ambience (wasn't expecting fine dining to begin with)... but it just wasn't a good experience with the long lines, the flies, mediocre food, and the ONE toilet they had! Really, I just don't get the hype.

    (3)

  • Alexis B.

    I looove spicy!! The hot and spicy shrimp plate was really hot and delicious. Definitely not the kind of overpowering flavor that makes you not want to eat so that's good! The lemon butter was great too! By far shrimp scampi was most flavorful. Even though the line was long they got the orders out in seconds and both parking and tables are cleared pretty quickly.

    (4)

  • Landon F.

    The wife and I always visit when taking mainland friends or family around NS. We've tried almost everything on the menu, garlic shrimp remains the favorite for me. Price is alright, many flies in the seating area, we usually drive somewhere else to eat.

    (4)

  • Kelly G.

    FLIES FLIES FLIES How do people enjoy their food when there are TONS of flies flitting around you all the time? The shrimp was good though. My friend who never eats shrimp, ate 3! Rice was nothing special although loved the garlic sauce on top. Still, the flies detracted from my experience and I'd rather go somewhere else to enjoy my shrimp!

    (3)

  • Rich M.

    We went there for the first time on our vacation and let me tell ya...Da Best by far, now I love garlic and the shrimp scampy was delicious. My nephew who doesn't eat anything but pizza try one and he's dad had to get him a plate for himself. The people that work there are really friendly and they have tables that are covered in case of rain or very hot a shelter, but the shrimp...OUT OF THIS WORLD. We will be back soon...

    (5)

  • a H.

    Really good shrimp scampi. Little pricey though for 12 shrimp. The Spicy scampi is pretty hot as well. My main complaint is the distance to get out there, the price and it's a bit oily. Otherwise it's very good shrimp.

    (4)

  • Pete T.

    It wasn't the easiest place to locate if you're not a local. Passed by it 3x before finding the graffitied trailer with no sign. It's pricy food truck food, but it's fair considering it's seafood. We had the scampi and the spicy. The scampi was fresh and tasty. The rice that comes with it is garlic perfection. Not impressed with the spicy as it was more sour than spicy. All in all, you won't be too sad if you missed out on this place.

    (2)

  • Bernard S.

    You gotta make that stop for that garlic shrimp....then shave ice to cool down!!!

    (5)

  • Ken D.

    Nothing special. Went there because of the hype. This location was not busy around 1pm. There are maybe 5 more trucks in the parking lot selling similar foods. They were equally busy as Giovanni's. Price was ok for 2 small scoops of rice with huge shrimps. I was still hungry after finishing my dish. I heard some other guys saying "now lets try Mackys". Would recommend to try it. But should come with lower expectations. This is near Macky s who sells the same type of food. Check out the discount coupons for Mackys in the booklets stores hand out in waikiki.

    (2)

  • Johnny Z.

    Pretty disappointing... I've heard about all the hype with this place and decided to try it out. I got the shrimp scampi and almost died from all the grease I found in the food! Don't get me wrong, I'm not a health freak by any extent, but the ridiculous amount of grease was disgusting :( however I love shrimp so I gave this place an extra star. I recommend going next door to Kono's shrimp truck. The food and portion size there are way better, plus they give a military discount. You won't see me running back to Giovanni's like all the tourists that's for sure.

    (3)

  • Chuck N.

    If you enjoy shrimp, you must, must eat at Giovanni's. For $12 you get 2 scoops of rice and a dozen shrimp in three flavors: - scampi (their most popular) - hot and spicy (EXTREMELY hot be warned) - lemon pepper (not as popular) (They also have hot dogs, but unless you hate shrimp, I wouldn't get that). The order taker was nice and let me do half, half scampi and hot and spicy. -The scampi had tons of garlic, lemon butter and was absolutely perfect. I prefer shrimp without the skin/shell, but the flavors packed into it made me want to dive into the shell like it was a soft-shelled crab. Mmmmm. - The hot and spicy was delicious, except I think they packed it with way too much spices. I can handle the hottest of hot, but even I was burning up. I had the shrimp sweats. It was delicious though. The Hawaiian orange mango and green tea sodas are only $1 too. Shrimp fan = go here. That simple. And bring a pen to tag their truck (yes, it's customary).

    (5)

  • Sean R.

    Scampi, Scampi, Scampi..... What more can i say? Delicious!

    (5)

  • R S.

    Went here in August and it was GREAT! Extreme garlic lovers...go get some! The spicy was okay...not great. There's a BBQ corn stand in the same lot that is also very good! Only issue is that to get here from Waikiki is quite a trek. Make sure to plan your North Shore activities accordingly and stack them all on the same day as your visit to Giovanni's. It isn't very far from the PCC or Turtle Bay.

    (5)

  • Michael P.

    Great as a tourist spot, but also get the cravings for their shrimp ALL THE TIME... most people get that "eww" face because they have to sit out on the outside tables, but suck it up guys.... if you really need to wipe down the tables... DO IT- they have paper towels on the back of the truck next to the sink. as far as the food... I love just getting the scampi, and getting the hot sauce on the side for some kick.

    (5)

  • Melissa B.

    OMG you have to go. The shrimp here are worth the 20 minute wait! The scampi was delish!!

    (5)

  • Steph K.

    nomnomnomnom. I love the smell of garlic shrimp and so do all the flies. The wait is usually quite long and there is always a line. But today I got my garlic shrimp plate in less than a minute!! I think they have a new cooking system or something. Whatever it is, don't change it! The food is still super ono and with a shorter wait, it tastes even better. If you wanna be adventerous and love HOT and SPICY food, go for the hot and spicy shrimp. My mouth was literally on fire after the second shrimp xD

    (4)

  • Lan N.

    Garlic shrimp with rice topped with browned garlic, please! Flavors were strong...you best like garlic! Shrimps were big. I think you get a dozen of them. Simple food made quickly. I've had Macky's, but that was about a year ago, so I can't fairly compare them...guess this means I should go back and try it again...for research purposes:)

    (4)

  • Lauren P.

    The garlic shrimp is good. The lemon shrimp was not tasty to our family of 5. Ask for some hot sauce and bring baby wipes. Tables are dirty and lots of flies everywhere. I couldn't really enjoy the food because of the flies and how dirty it was. However garlic shrimps were yummy.

    (3)

  • Thanhquyen N.

    We tried the garlic shrimp and rice. It is my first time. The ingredients are basic but heavy on the garlic and butter (?), and the shrimp are large. It was delicious and very addicting. Try the corn on cobb at the other stall. It is pretty good too.

    (5)

  • Jennifer T.

    I recommend....EVERYTHING on the menu. Shrimp Scampi is the most popular for a reason, though! I was on vacation on O'ahu, staying in Honolulu, and had to come up to get Giovanni's twice on separate days.

    (5)

  • Tram N.

    Wow are there a lot of flies here! They sure love all of that shrimp! My friend and I shared the garlic shrimp, which was delicious but very oily. We also got half of the hot and sour shrimp, which was totally not what we had in mind. Definitely straying away from that one. It was VERY spicy and also sour; not a great type of spice either. We actually got our food and drove to a nearby shop to eat it because the flies there were so overwhelming, it was pretty gross to eat around that area.

    (4)

  • Nicole I.

    I'm a loyal Giovanni's fan - my name is even on the backside of the truck, as are those of many others. Giovanni's Shrimp Truck produces consistently good product - the perfect plate of piping hot garlic butter shrimp (Shrimp Scampi - $13), perched upon a bed of warm white rice. Add on a side of Hawaiian Sun's Passion Orange Drink, and you're good to go. The shrimp are always thoroughly cooked and flavored to perfection. Pieces are large; you definitely get your money's worth. Other options include Hot and Spicy Shrimp, Lemon Butter Shrimp, and the Garlic Hot Dog. This is by no means a fine dining establishment. For those unaware, it is literally a truck off the side of the road with a few tents covering the seating area. Don't let it deter you, fuss-free, no-frills is what Giovanni's does best. Be sure to bring cash and a hearty appetite - you'll definitely be wanting more!

    (5)

  • Andrew D.

    Invariably, a lot of people on my travels to Oahu mentioned Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. Frankly, I don't quite get what all the hype is about. The Shimp I had were kind of bland and both the spicy, scampi and lemon butter sauces were nothing out of the ordinary. I will admit, their rice with fried garlic on top was good, but I didn't come here to eat fried garlic over rice! Of the two locations, I did like this one in Haleiwa better, sitting on long picnic tables under the trees.

    (2)

  • Diana P.

    Giovanni's is still the BEST SHRIMP in Oahu, hands down! There was a lot of hype about some other shrimp trucks - so we decided to try the other places. Nothing compares. Butter and garlic is just too yum & Giovanni's executes it perfectly. & now there's TWO locations!! Can't beat that.

    (5)

  • Jes D.

    We ordered a half order of the garlic butter shrimp and a half order of the shrimp scampi at Giovanni's. The food didn't take long to come out, the flavor was great overall. Nothing special, but I would come back if I was craving for some good shrimp. 3 stars because the overall surrounding was not very clean. There were large flies everywhere, circling you and your food as you eat. I know this might sound silly, but I think the food might have tasted better if the flies weren't there. I think I lost my appetite after seeing so many flies.

    (3)

  • Irene T.

    Loved ... Loved ... Loved ... This spot. The people, food, atmosphere was very mellow. The employees/workers were so nice. The food was great. The food was served fast. We had the shrimp and garlic hotdog. My daughter enjoyed the garlic rice. Giovanni's felt like I was in the Philippines.

    (5)

  • Kelly H.

    Because this is the most popular shrimp truck on the island... we came here just to try it, but being the most popular does not mean is the best. Because it's so popular, they charge more than your other shrimp trucks... but is the quality THAT much better? I'm afraid the answer is no. I"m just gonna keep my review short. Come here if you want to just say you've been here... but MACKY'S SHRIMP TRUCK is the best on the island!

    (2)

  • Jinna K.

    Really good fresh shrimp! We had the scampi and spicy shrimp which were delish. Best shrimp from a truck I've had. I love the garlic sauce on the rice for the scampi. The spicy one is pretty spicy!

    (4)

  • Mel T.

    Eight months ago, during a trip to Oahu, I would have been prepared to name Giovanni's Shrimp Scampi as my favorite meal ever, my last meal request if faced with death. Fast forward to just this past week, however, and, sadly, Giovanni's no longer holds the key to that special place in my stomach. I used to crave Giovanni's like no other. During our Oahu vacation last June, I was able to convince the bf to drive to North Shore from Waikiki a couple times during our short stay just for another bite of that garlicy, succulent shrimp. One of those days, we even had Giovanni's for lunch and, two hours later, as an afternoon snack. I could not get enough of the stuff. Maybe that June memory was hyped up too much in my head. We visited Giovanni's last week, and I was supremely disappointed with my meal. I ordered the same as I always have, but somehow something was just...missing. I was devastated. We returned a second time during the week just to ensure the prior visit wasn't a fluke. This visit was better than the first, although the meal still didn't live up to my memory. Now that I am thorougly disappointed with Giovanni's, maybe the next time I return, my expectations will be so low that what was once favorite meal will excite me again. Until then, fellow Yelpers, 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

    (3)

  • Anna P.

    Yes, I have to admit the shrimps will rock your socks! I ordered the shrimp scampi and tried some of my brother's spicy shrimp. Both were flavorful and yummy! I ordered a side of mac salad and could've done without it. One star off for my rice being soaked with butter. I think I would've enjoyed it much more with the rice being on the side. A must have if you're visiting Oahu. You are eating outside so they should invest in some fly traps or yellow jackets!

    (4)

  • Norman P.

    Had garlic shrimp scampi suggested by all the fanfare and was moderately impressed. The side sauce wasn't spicy enough to me and the ritual of individually peeling the shrimp was tedious. There was an amazing corn on the cob shack behind that had the best seas salted corn!

    (3)

  • Mia J.

    The garlic shrimp was very good! You cannot go wrong with garlic and butter, but since they were not peeled a lot of the garlic is lost when you peel the shrimp. The rice was pretty boring since all it had on it was a few clumps of garlic. Overall very good and I would get again.

    (4)

  • Jose G.

    Had to try this place out. Definitely good atmosphere and location. The garlic and butter is a little blant, but good overall.

    (4)

  • Diana B.

    Bestest shrimp EVER!! Hubby had the scampi and I had the spicy! That spicy concoction is just NUTS!!!! So hot yet so good...and addicting! My only prob is the lines! Phew!!! Bring something a little extra to munch on while you wait. We waited for 45 mins! The good thing I guess is you can buy/browse at the little kiosks around the area. Awesome plate of shrimp!!!!

    (5)

  • Joel S.

    The Good: Garlic shrimp, garlic rice. The Bad: A tad pricey, but worth it. The Review: Honestly Giovanni's was my favorite place that I ate in my week in Hawaii. Definitely worth the 50 minute drive from Waikiki. I ordered the original scampi for $13 and garlic hot dog for $3.50. Great deal on the garlic hot dog. The shrimp were large sized and well seasoned but the real hit of the plate was, surprisingly, the rice. Two large scoops of rice with the garlic and butter on top made it really good. The garlic hot dog was good, and very well priced, but it pretty much tasted like they rolled a hot dog in the garlic butter sauce. Which isn't a bad thing, but not super special. My advice would be to get the Shrimp Scampi and then save room for a BBQ corn that is nearby. When we went, we were able to find seating, but it was pretty packed.

    (5)

  • Sherry B.

    Definitely not overrated. The shrimp scampi was freaking amazing. I'm not easy to please either. Don't forget it's cash only and you better have it in hand or you may catch a little attitude. I didn't mind that though, we should have known better. Thanks to my husband for peeling the shrimp!! If ripping off legs and shell isn't your thing, better take someone who doesn't mind it. And at that thought, I suggest a visit to Dat Cajun Guys food truck, so you can try some amazing food AND wash your hands before digging your dirty fingers into that scampi.

    (5)

  • Alex Z.

    Best shrimp scampi I've ever had in my life. If you don't mind the oily (not greasy) shrimp and fried garlic on top of japanese rice, YOU WOULD LOVE THIS PLACE. Cooked perfectly and definitely get the scampi over the hot and plain with butter.

    (5)

  • Joy N.

    I LOVE this shrimp truck!!!!! The shrimp scampi plate is absolutely delicious!!! It is so hard to enjoy garlic shrimp anywhere else because I compare it to Giovanni's and there is nothing in comparison. The shrimp scampi plate is $13 and is smothered in garlic and butter. The garlic is all over the shrimp and they even pour some of the garlic on your rice, which is delicious!!! Other things I've heard from friends is that the hot & spicy is VERY spicy and that the lemon butter one has no taste to it. Recently, one of my friends tried the garlic hot dog though and LOVED it. He said he would order just the hot dog next time (without the bun) and eat it with his shrimp and rice. Only BAD thing.... but it is a really BAD thing-- are the flies. It is sooooo difficult to eat the shrimp since you are trying to peel your shirmp and chase away flies at the same time. Can't wait until they find a solution to keep these flies out.

    (4)

  • Cassandra P.

    Yummy but out of mac salad... Long long wait... But that is expected. It is great.

    (4)

  • Iva C.

    We had Macky's for lunch and Giovanni's for dinner. Giovanni's wins, hands down! Much more garlicky flavor and the rice was better. I didn't come to hawaii to eat salad!

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    So delicious! Got the half order of shrimp scampi and wish I had got the full order! The shrimps were very flavorful and cooked perfectly. The sauce plus the garlic with rice = heaven in my mouth.

    (5)

  • Ray P.

    Shrimp scampi and spicy shrimp are perfectly cooked and easy to peel. Not sure why the spicy sauce can be ordered extra on the side, but not the garlic sauce. The hassle of shooing the flies takes away from the experience. Five stars for the food, one star for the environment.

    (3)

  • Valerie T.

    This is the second time we've been here, figure that it would be just as good as the first time! The rice was wet and mushy way over cooked and tasted like dish soap. And when we went in the back to wash our hands the lady that was cooking the rice starting yelling at us telling us go around the other way because she was using the sink. My husband started yelling back at her telling her why don't you put up signs or a rope so people don't come this way and you don't need to be yelling at children! What a bad experience! I don't think we'll be coming there anymore!

    (1)

  • Hope G.

    I was recommended to this shrimp truck by a local on the flight to Hawaii. GREAT ADVICE! 13$ a plate, but the shrimp is so good, the sauce is great, even the rice is good! The wait is not very long, the workers are nice, you can even sign the food truck :) great place food a good sized meal.

    (5)

  • Piper W.

    I didn't fall in love with these shrimp. I had the shrimp scampi and they were garlicky but the flavor didn't wow me. You have to remove the shell. I felt like this was more hype than substance. Not terrible just not great. Be prepared to get messy! Tip: take baby or hand wipes for everyone.

    (3)

  • Matthew L.

    Get the SHRIMP SCAMPI!! I swear this was the most flavorful garlic infused fresh shrimp scampi I have ever had. Writing this review makes me want to have a plate of it again, too bad im 2,500 miles away now. I say this is one of the top 3 places you MUST visit during your Hawaii vacation. The shrimps are super fresh and huge with lots and lots of garlic. For $13 bucks it was worth every penny. No one could imagine this run down hole in the wall truck would serve something soo yummy. The next time I visit I am going to visit this shrimp truck!

    (5)

  • Ha'aheo K.

    Yum

    (4)

  • Felicia M.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp scampi plate with rice....it was nice and garlicky! I went on a weekday and the wait was less than 10 minutes and was able to get a spot at one of the picnic tables to eat. If I visit Oahu again, I'd definitely pay Giovanni's a visit.

    (4)

  • Nancy H.

    I've been eating at the Haleiwa truck for years and love, love, love the garlic shrimp. Once, I tried the lemon shrimp; it was quite tasty if you want to avoid the garlic. However, the garlic shrimp is far and away the tastiest of any garlic shrimp I've tried in Hawaii, bar none! The shrimp is so fresh and delicious, and they totally enhance the garlic experience by pouring the chunky garlic sauce over the 2 scoops of rice; yum! A friend from the mainland who LOVES spicy food, tried the spicy shrimp, and the sign is correct: it is VERY hot! The lines at this location typically aren't as long as the Kahuku truck, but the tables are dirty (I always ask for a cloth to wipe my table) and there is no place to wash your hands after eating.

    (4)

  • Mario G.

    hot and spicy all day err day. i could eat that plate every monday to say "f" you monday! make sure you bring beer!

    (5)

  • Eric B.

    Eating at a shrimp truck is a must do when on Oahu. Eating at Giovanni's is a must do when choosing which truck. This place is great. We ate here last year when vacationing. We drove back here twice this time while on the island for a wedding. We have tried all the flavors and I must say the Spicy is my favorite. I warn you it is very spicy, but it has great flavor. It is spicy enough that my oldest daughter teared up and said her whole body was sweating, but she ate the whole plate. It is so good, that my father who doesn't normally eat spicy food, tasted mine and asked for two more. Then my mom and dad both signed the truck. My youngest daughter's favorite is the Shrimp Scampi. Super garlicky and buttery, and better than the other trucks parked here. (We tried them all.) Also, for what it is worth, Giovanni's rice is better as well. Be advised they are CASH ONLY.

    (4)

  • Luanna Y.

    Shrimp scampi + special hot sauce + mounds of garlic + rice = ZOMG SO GOOD. This place is awesome. Perfect after a long, hot day at the beach. Delicious, fresh shrimp cooked in olive oil and then covered in mounds of garlic. It was A-mazing. Previous reviews complained about the hordes of flies. I was scared. I hate flies. But it really wasn't that bad. Just had maybe 1-2 flies buzzing around, but I was able to keep them off my grub no problem. This truck is easy to miss, so drive slow when in the area. Just keep on the lookout for McDonalds right across the street. The truck is going to be set up in a small clearing with parking. The McDonalds is great to use for their bathroom and to wash up after getting oily garlic-y goodness all over your hands while grubbing. Score! One small critique would be that I thought it was a little pricey. This drops the rating down from 5 to 4 stars. $13/plate and I came away satisfied, but I ended up hungry just a couple of hours later. No complaints about the taste though! :D

    (4)

  • Danny R.

    My second time at Giovanni's and they are still good. My wife ordered the shrimp scampy and I went for a garlic hot dog this time. Yes this is a shrimp truck, but i am a garlic lover and wanted to try something different.

    (4)

  • Merry K.

    Shrimp scampi was amazing, but the flies around the picnic table were a pain in the ass. Take food to go.

    (4)

  • Annie L.

    Holy moly, garlic breath never tasted so good. Shrimp scampi with a side of mac salad is the optimal choice. Wash it down with some passion orange juice and you'll be all set. It's a bit overpriced but I don't have a problem supporting local establishments. Make sure to wash your hands afterwards.

    (4)

  • James Z.

    While were on Oahu, we tried most of the shrimp trucks, we feel like this place is over hyped, line is very long. The garlic shrimps are just ok, we like mike's huli-huli chicken garlic shrimp better and Romy's is better. So we tried it just to see whats the hype is all about.

    (3)

  • Courtney H.

    Fun to sign the truck but ive had better shrimp scampi at other trucks in the area. The lemon butter is a better choice than the garlic explosion. Shrimp overcooked. A friend made an observation, now that everyone knows about this place they dont have to try as hard to keep up quality...

    (2)

  • Heather P.

    While driving up to North Shore to enjoy all the beautiful beaches along the way Giovanni's is a must stop for me. Garlicky goodness in every bite. I've had other shrimp trucks before but none of them are as good as Giovanni's. I'll probably try another shrimp place one day...but with a plate of Giovanni's right next to it so I can really compare.

    (4)

  • Denise M.

    Tried this new location with our friends after they finished skydiving. Close to Dillingham field and less crowded than its sister truck, we were choosing down on shrimp scampi and lemon butter shrimp. No wait for our food. Fantastic.

    (5)

  • Lily B.

    SOOOOOO... I know there is some competition when it comes to shrimp trucks on the North Shore... and by no means am I jumping on the Giovanni's bandwagon... but damn... you have to give credit where it's deserved! They have some BOMB shrimp!!! So you get two scoops of rice and 12 shrimp. Now I've never tried the hot n spicy or the garlic butter... because I LA LA LOOOVE my scampi! 12 HUGE shrimp, de-veined, shell on, and sauteed in some type of heaven! There is SO MUCH garlic... and I'm a garlic lover... so it hits the spot for me! I've tried the hot sauce on the side... and it's a sour hot sauce... not my style... but my friends swear by it and love it. To each his own I say! yelp.com/user_local_phot… Depends on which truck you hit... the one by the Kahuku Sugar Mill is ALWAYS PACKED!!! We waited almost 45 minutes once! I like the one in Haleiwa (15 minute wait)... and Matsumoto's is down the road... ;) Flies... not that bad! Maybe 2 buzzing around... nothing scary or ridiculous for us! Service is always friendly too! yelp.com/user_local_phot… Also... they have a garlic hot dog... basically it's a Costco hot dog (I asked what brand they use) which is sauteed in the same yummy goodness as the shrimp, and you can get it with rice or a bun. My boyfriend and I each get our own scampi plate and we share a hot dog (it's THAT good!). We've tried Romy's and Macky's... sorry... Giovanni's is our fave by far!!!

    (5)

  • Charlie W.

    North shore... First of all, the drive past the Dole pineapple plant and the coastal drive to get there was pretty neat, gorgeous! But that's a whole other story. So, shrimp truck, I'm thinking shrimp truck? Trucks are kinda overdone in LA... But 4 stars, and in Hawaii no less, no schedule so let's go play. I actually past the truck the first time we went by, it's sort of parked in an open area next to a covered patio seating area just off the road. Being from LA, you're used to seeing these fancy trucks all wrapped up, this was nothing like that. Just a lonely truck off the road. BUT... The food tooooootally rocked! They have 4 items (3 of which are shrimp plates), spicy, lemon butter, scampi... Oh and no refunds on the spicy! hahahaha! So the wifey picks spicy, I picked the lemon butter, because when you see no refunds right next to 'hot & spicy', it makes you think twice about the next few moments of your life before you put that order in! So the food... lemon butter was awesome, shrimp, rice, mac, what else can I say except delicious, like really delicious, cooked perfectly and seasoned just right, you know when the skins come off smooth without too much effort it's all good. Unfortunately, I only enjoyed about 2 shrimps off my plate before the wife looked over with puppy dog eyes and said, this is spicy, can we trade? (while gulping lilikoi juice)... Hmmm, anything for the wife, you know. So 'hot & spicy', 'no refunds', I love that! Let's give it a go! Seriously, it was sooooo good. I mean I enjoyed the hot and spicy more than the lemon butter shrimp! Don't get me wrong, I drank like 4 cans of juice while enjoying my meal, but well well well worth it for sure! The rice drowned out a bit of the hot... not really. But yet good to the last bite. So so so good in fact the wife and I decided to order the scampi as well and give it a go while we're there! Might as well you know... When you're on holiday, you have every excuse to eat up. Yes, that good! and of course an extra mac so the wifey and I don't fight over it :) 3 plates, about 7 canned juices, happy tummies, I wish they were closer to home. If you're out in North Shore, go go go! Eat eat eat! Be happy and Stay Hungry My Friends!

    (4)

  • Jackson L.

    Decent food truck in Haleiwa near McD's. Ordered the garlic shrimp plates with homemade mac salad. $13 a plate and $1.50 for the mac salad. There were no people in line so it was fairly quick. The garlic shrimp was average at best, and the garlic was overwhelming. I couldn't taste much of the shrimp since all I could notice was the garlic and butter. There was a scoop of rice on the side with a slice of lemon, but the rice soaked up most of the garlic and butter so it tasted soggy and buttery. The homemade mac salad was pretty good, but it comes in a small portion to compliment the shrimp plate. Oh yeah, my girlfriend and I tried to eat at the benches but the swarm of flies was just unbearable. We ended up eating our food in the car. This is one of two locations, and the original location is farther north in Kuhuku. Maybe the original location is better? When I drove by it there were like 30 people waiting in line. I would be willing to check out the original location, but this one was not as good as I thought it would be.

    (2)

  • Brian P.

    Hot and Spicy shrimp were just that! What a fun and unique experience for the entire family. Cash only. About $12/plate.

    (3)

  • jen s.

    The famous white shrimp truck marked up with sharpie pens. What can I say...I'm totally a fan! I'll be honest-I'm just a tad bit picky---I will only eat black tiger shrimp and it has to be prepared a certain way--no head, poky piece by the tail removed and sliced down the back with the poppie removed. Giovanni's got it down! I always order the shrimp scampi with a side of hot sauce and extra lemons. If you love butter and garlic you def need to try this--Cough up the $13.00 and you'll get... 13 pieces of shrimp, 2 scoops of rice topped with garlic and a lemon wedge. This truck gets pretty busy. I eat here quite often and here/there I find a shrimp that's not sliced or not quite cooked to my liking? You know--where the meat is a little mush. Ahhh--i hate that, but that's ok b/c I'll trade it with hubby. He'll eat it--LOL. Parking can be a 'b' @ times. I always get my order to go and drive down to sunset beach. I cant deal with all the flies trying to get @ my food while enjoying my shrimp.

    (5)

  • Paul K.

    Very tasty shrimp- we had the lemon butter (good) and the Scampi (super tasty). The truck looks a little grungy, but there is nothing wrong with the food........I agree it's a little pricey, but I had scampi at several other locations and nothing came close to the taste, so it's probably worth the $$$$, at least for a taste.

    (5)

  • Joanne C.

    FINALLY GOT TO TRY THIS PLACE! Had to see what the hype was all about. Kept seeing this place on FoodNetwork and Facebook. We got the Shrimp Scampi (12 pieces) served with rice for $13. It was delicious!

    (4)

  • Sherry K.

    This place lived up to the hype with respect to the hit and spicy shrimp! My new craving. The only bad thing was you had to wait at least an hour for your food.

    (4)

  • Kohl I.

    Truly a great eating spot on your trip to the north shore. SHRIMP SCAMPI is definitely the way to go. Great flavor, shell of shrimp is pre-cut so its easy to peel off, and two scoops of rice! A little pricey for a food truck, but its Hawaii so that's expected. As what the other reviewer said, yes there are flies around the area by the tables, but you're on a tropical island eating food...flies are part of the experience! If you want a clean, fancy eating spot, take your butt to Roy's Hawaiian Fusion! haha

    (4)

  • Don D.

    My rating is based on my last visit even though I have been here many many times before. On the last visit, I was kind of disappointed with the quality of the food. For one, the rice was dry as if it had been scooped out early and left to dry out a little. Second, the shrimp was more rubbery than I was used to. The only plus was the time it took to get our plate. Normally it takes a while before you get it because their truck is so busy. But this time, it came out fast....and the quality suffered. Take an extra 5 minutes for my plate, I wont be mad! Id rather get the quality than the quickness. Its no wonder that it has been a long time since ive been to Gio's....and have been visiting other trucks instead. Normally, id give this place 4 stars.....we'll see if they can redeem themselves next time. Totally bummed out about my last encounter.

    (2)

  • Ji P.

    Giovanni's shrimp truck is usally the first stop after I get off the plane. From Phoenix, I usually take a flight that get's into Honolulu at 11:30am. It's awesome! just in time for lunch!!! cuz it's too early for check in so I usually have a change of clothes and swimsuit in an easily accessible carry on and get my rental car and head out to the north side to get lunch at Giovanni's shrimp truck and Matsumoto shaved ice. They have the most unbelieveable shrimp scampi I have ever had. It is super garlicky and lots of olive oil. They have the largest shrimp too. It is messy so you need to come prepared with some wet wipes or something. I've tried the hot and spicy and scampi but scampi is my favorite. I've also been to both locations of Giovanni and they taste exactly the same. I have tried couple of other shrimp trucks near by but it just doesn't compare....

    (4)

  • Angelo F.

    This was my first time experience with Giovanni's Shrimp Truck and from what everyone hyped up about their shrimp, they did not let me down. They were delish! - First off, dont even think about sharing! - I chose the Shrimp Scampi and the garlic butter sauce the shrimp was bathing in was spectacular! - They give you 2 scoops of rice and some lemons. The shrimps were jumbo in size and very juicy. I swear I can do 50 of them in one sitting. No joke! - Be ready to fight some flies while you eat but they werent too much of a bother once you start grubbing. A must when visiting!

    (4)

  • Kayla S.

    This food truck is amazing! Pay $13 for a large plate of shrimp with rice and you'll have yourself a delicious lunch. Their spicy shrimp is no joke, that plate is hot! My favorite there is the shrimp scampi. If the line is long don't fall for one of the other shrimp trucks in the same parking lot, the wait is well worth it!!!

    (5)

  • Nhung C.

    There are two Giovanni's shrimp truck. My friends and I stopped at both places. It is that GOOD that we have to go for a second one! haha This place has the best shrimp in town! I've tried the hot & spicy shrimps and it is VERY spicy! When I was making my order, I said hot & spicy please. The lady asked me, have u tried it before and I said no. She said its really spicy, are u sure? And I said yeah! The sign on the menu said no refund! And I know it has to be spicy so I decided to get it because I love spicy food! I got my food in less than 10mins. I tried eating the sauce with the rice first and man! It was spicy! It's a different kind of spice. It has a tangy feeling to it kinda like sweet and sour taste. But it was still very good! I managed to finished the whole thing but with a bottle of water by my side haha. I wouldn't recommend this one if its your first time eating at Giovanni's. I've tried my bf's dish which is the shrimp scampi and it was delicious! The garlic sauce over the rice is a mouthful of delicious-ness! It was a perfect combo! I also tried my friend's dish which is shrimp and butter sauce. It's just boiled shrimp and butter sauce on the side for dipping. This dish in my opinion was pretty good. Mainly because I wish they woulda just mix the butter sauce with the shrimp together instead of on the side. But nonetheless, the dish was still good! I highly recommend getting the shrimp scampi if you're a first timer! Definitely come back here again.

    (5)

  • Dawne L.

    Woke up to another beautiful morning on our last full day in Oahu, with my hubby whispering to my ear -- "Hey sweetie, do you feel like driving to the shrimp truck again today?" Not terribly romantic but, heck, yeah!!! It's a 45-minute drive from Waikiki, but we didn't mind just to get our hands on those juicy, garlicky shrimps -- definitely the best of the shrimp trucks we've tried. They have a limited menu -- but all you really need. 12 pieces of shrimp in 3 different flavors -- shrimp scampi, hot and spicy, lemon butter. Also available in 6pcs for half the price. Tried all 3 flavors and all that we can say is -- "Oh shrimp scampi... how much do we love thee?"

    (5)

  • David K.

    Okay did I miss something? After I posted a picture on my facebook and instagram of my shrimp plate from Macky's all my friends said you have to try Giovanni's. I already had plans to come here and give it a try. WTF were my friends smoking? Maybe because they came to Hawaii and Macky's wasnt around but HANDS down this place does not compare. Doesnt even come with salad, just rice and shrimp. Shrimps are smaller, the garlic was burnt and you can surely taste it. The shrimps were over cooked as well. They hot shrimp was way too sour tasting and OVERLY spicy Maybe this truck location sucks but I sure didnt enjoy the shrimp here.

    (1)

  • Jason F.

    I have traveled to Haleiwa twice, and have made sure to visit Giovanni's both times. Their Shrimp Scampi plate with the garlic rice is incredible. The atmosphere is very funky and fun. Doesn't get much better than sitting outside in beautiful Hawaii with a plate full of humongous shrimp right after a nice surf session. The scampi marinade is soooo good that I went ahead last year and ordered two bottles of the marinade so that I could make the scampi dish at home. It tastes almost exactly the same, but just a little saltier. I wish I could find a way to make it less salty. You can order the marinade off of their website.

    (5)

  • Judith M.

    Twas my first visit to Hawaii to visit Jonathan. Yippee.. During my 3 day trip to Oahu, he made sure to ask what I wanted to try and eat.. I told him to decide and he always confirmed before heading over to the spot. With this spot.. he just said.. "We are getting garlic shrimp" with such passion.. and control. I said "okie!" and off we went to tour the town and of course stop by this amazing spot!!! AMAZING!! Glad he didn't give me an option.. THIS IS A MUST TRY FOR ANY TOURIST!! Promise! You won't be disappointed. P.S. Bring baby wipes and sanitizer. TRUST! :) Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Henry L.

    amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! Very Garlicky!! Very Garlicky!! Very Garlicky!! Very Garlicky!! Very Garlicky!! Very Garlicky!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! amazing!!!! This was the one of the main reasons we stopped by the north shore. Its hard to find because its surrounded by a bunch of trucks. at first you say to yourself "nah it cant be a shit hole of looking place" But it is people. Its located in a area with a few trucks and half of them have a huge signs touting the garlic shrimp. So unless you know that you need to find Giovanni's you'll miss it and head to the knock off truck. How do you find Giovanni's? well 2 things. Look for the line. The lonnng line and if there isint one because you came in the off season or after lunch then look for the truck with thousands of names on it. Dont just look for the truck with names on it, because all the trucks around these guys are coping them and having people sign their names on it. You have to find the truck that has NO space to put your name on and you've hit the rightg truck. ok so i was excited about this place. My girl ordered the garlic shrimp, i ordered the hot and spicy and the garlic hot dog. first of all the garlic hot dog was a damn good surprise. it had a good taste to it and it was a different tasting dog that i've had in a long time. The garlic shrimp was amazing!! It had so much garlic on it and the flavor was perfect. I mean amazing perfect. They give you roughly about 13 large shrimps. The cost of each plate is $13. The hot and spicy wasnt all hot and spicy like its been touted but it was still very god. It had more of the franks red hot on it and a bunch of red pepper flakes. Again not too spicy for my book but good. Total cost with drink was $35. a little on the steep side for a food truck but worth every penny. If i had to choose a bad thing about going there, it was the flies. The flies were but the multi hundereds and it got beyond annoying really fast. It was like there was a crapper in the back and the flies were having a field day but there wasnt. It was because of all the food and the crappy way this whole park handles their trash. If you look past that then you will enjoy it. We did.

    (5)

  • Meggles C.

    Cannot understand the hype. I have tried many of the shrimp trucks on the North Shore and this one was one of the worst. Flavor was lacking and the shrimps were low quality. Ick! I am sticking to Big Wave.

    (2)

  • Bianca K.

    Go for the scampi, which is excellent. Skip the hot and spicy one. It's overly hot which drowns out all shrimp taste. Overall, pretty good.

    (4)

  • S Y.

    Something about swimming and laying in the sun all day got us craving shrimp & rice- no better place to go but to Giovanni's! Being that it was closing soon they only had Shrimp Scampi left, so 3 of us got 4 orders haha! Everything was nice and garlicky and I used a lot of hot sauce for dipping just cause... and washed it down with a Hawaiian Sun Passion Orange drink, yum! My first time at this location and I came prepared with a huge pack of wipes and hand sanitizer. One thing I was not prepared for was all the damn bugs! Once the food is handed to you, you're surrouned by fleas ready to attack your food. I was fanning them away with one hand and eating with the other. For you first timers, you might wanna hit up the other location for better enjoyment!

    (4)

  • Pua C.

    As far as north shore shrimp trucks go, Giovanni's is my absolute favorite! I've been going here for years and I love it! The shrimp scampi and the butter & lemon are to-die-for...literally! Minus the limited amount of parking and the annoying flies, it's a great place to pick up food on your way into Haleiwa!

    (5)

  • Cameron B.

    Giovanni's is a North Shore staple. there's always that question of who is better. giovanni? romy? Honestly, it all tastes the same. Garlic butter. The best thing about the truck is the grafitti all over the truck. So take note, remember to bring a sharpie! How often do you get the chance to have lunch and deface the property? thousands of visitors writting all on the same truck. Really neat if you think about it. My ownly gripes about this place? A little crazy with the butter but still good. Pretty pricey ($13.95) for 12 shrimps & garlic rice. But you can't beat the garlic buttery goodness. The hot dog is the way to go. When I went they were parked in Haleiwa in some little shaded area in teh woods. Problem with that? Lots of flies! So if you hate bugs, bring spray. And hand wipes because good luck finding a sink to wash your hands. No bathrooms around either. I don't think I've tried anything else here besides the shrimp and hot dog. make sure you get the hot sauce!

    (4)

  • Sharon Z.

    Delish!!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer N.

    I like another shrimp truck better.....but this place was okay. The rice was cold and small serving size. The shrimp were cooked well. The flavor of the garlic was not as bold as I like. Oh well, it was decent.

    (2)

  • Grace C.

    After a tiring early morning trip to the Dole Plantation, we were famished for some good shrimp! We stopped by Giovanni's and ordered their shrimp scampi and the chili hot dog. Let me tell you: the shrimp is the best! I love the savory taste of the garlicky butter on the ginormous sized shrimp with the soft mushy sticky white rice. What a perfect combo! The chili dog was pretty good, but quite overshadowed by the shrimp. Only downside of this place were the endless amount of flies. Didn't quite notice them until we got our food and sat at the tables. They swarmed like crazy and we had to fight them off while eating. It got old, so we ended up running back to the car to enjoy the food. Other than that, the food can't be missed!

    (4)

  • Denise L.

    everyone raves about it, ive heard it for years. i finally got to try it!!! i went to the 2nd location as it was closer to where i was at north shore, and got there just before 11:30 AM on thursday, so beat the lunch rush. or should i say the japanese tourists rush! i cant believe they come here as a group too. i cant believe a couple decked out in wedding gear came here with 2 professional photographers too! must be the spot! so its located on a dirt path area, along with 4 other food trucks. some serve shrimp. why oh why, i dont know. maybe when giovanni's is too crazy, people opt to go there? anyways, i went with the shrimp scampi (#1) with a canned juice. i believe the #1 is $13 or so. my order came out pretty quickly, and it was doused in garlic. yum! but maybe too much, especially compared to my friend's. i like how they give you an extra costco paper plate to dispose of your shells too. we were lucky enough to sit at one of the picnic tables to ourselves, until the japanese tourists started spilling through. these shrimps are so tasty, the best ive ever had, the shrimp poo nicely taken out. tons of butter garlic sauce oozing with each bite, and garlic and butter perfectly added onto each mound of rice. i was in heaven. until i was done. my stomach didnt like all the butter in my tummy. but, it all went away when i finished it off with shaved ice (read next review). totally worth it if youre in the area, its finger lickin good!

    (4)

  • Tina C.

    FREAKIN LOVE this hole in the wall food truck! Too bad I only get to eat it when I visit the North Shore. We will meet again! Ask for the half and half so youcan try both the super spicy(no refund) and scampi and ask for extra garlic on the rice! MMM

    (4)

  • Latoya L.

    Bleh. Maybe because Ive had Mackys or maybe because they had an off day but this was terrible. The shrimp was way over cooked and way way to oily. I don't know what the others see in this place and maybe it was a gem in their hay day but today was not the day. I will stick to Mackys from here on out. Sorry.

    (1)

  • Carina S.

    If you are in the North Shore, you should at least once try shrimp truck. Giovanni's is hands down my fave. Their garlicky jumbo shrimps.. oh yum.. melt in your mouth. Portion-wise, it's big. Price-wise, it's totally worth it. Be prepare to bring cash and hand wipes :)

    (5)

  • Jake V.

    Mmmm the shrimp were awesome. Definitely worth the trip. Loved the scampi shrimp and rice was really flavorful. Also loved the lemon butter shrimp. I could eat this all day for the whole week. This is a got to try food truck.

    (5)

  • Haley G.

    Overhyped. I truly question the taste of those who give Giovanni's anything more than 3 stars. I love shrimp trucks and with the plethora of better choices, why waste your time here? They're only so popular because idiots believe the hype and don't know better. Go to Zane's or Fumi's. Way better and more friendly. I'm not saying that Giovanni's is super disgusting, after all, I'm totally aware that all of the shrimp truck companies probably get shrimp from the same shrimp farms, but with such crappy and slow service, why would I *want* to frequent this establishment??

    (3)

  • Sam T.

    I'm not sure what the big deal is. Maybe I had too high of expectations. The shrimps were good, but not worth driving an hour from Honolulu for. We tried the lemon butter and spicy. In hindsight, I would have gotten the scampi. Lemon butter was just boiled shrimp, lemon and butter. Disappointingly, the shrimps were overcooked. As for the spicy, nothing more than sauteed shrimp in chili garlic sauce you get at the Asian market. Granted it was delicious, but not worth going out of my way for.

    (3)

  • Justin L.

    If you enjoy over cooked shrimp this is the place for you! The spicy shrimp are weak to the taste. They became big because of people with no taste.

    (1)

  • Blake T.

    Another Hawaiian food joint you should not miss. Although there are other food trucks in Haleiwa, I would recommend trying out Giovanni's first. Depending on the time of year you should expect to wait in line. As some other Yelpers mentioned, check in first and get your free drink. The portions are not anything to scream about but the food is delicious. I had the Garlic Shrimp. If you are ready for a nice drive I heard the Giovanni's in Kahuku is the bomb dot org. Either way, it's one of those places that your friends will ask you if you tried while in Hawaii so you may as well mark it off the itinerary.

    (4)

  • Chanel L.

    BIG OL GARLIC SHRIMP! Came here after the dole plantation. Don't get mislead, cause you will pass by many shrimp trucks before you reach the Giovanni's shrimp truck. Two plates for $26 and you eat on a picnic table. Def pricey to be eating off a shrimp truck. Theres three way they prepare the shrimp. I had the shrimp scampi and lemon/butter. The shrimp scampi was the BEST one. The shrimp was huge, garlicy and krispy. I was able to eat the shrimp with the shell. I even ate the rice cause it went so well with the shrimp. The lemon/butter with a side of hot sauce was a bit bland. Only order this if you like your shrimp plain. It started pouring rain during the end of our meal. So we had to run back to the car. Bbut this was the best recommendation ever! I WILL BE BACK and recommend this to all.

    (5)

  • Megan G.

    I recently was in Hawaii, and on the last day of my trip we decided that renting a car to the North Shore was necessary. The one thing we wanted was shrimp. We passed numerous shrimp locations, but had looked up Giovanni's online and decided to try it because it was the most well known. It was delicious. A dozen huge shrimp served with rice topped with hunks of cooked garlic...have I mentioned I like garlic? I had the scampi, but my friends got the hot and spicy- it's apparently not too hot, so if you want a spicier kick try that. Also be sure to get a coconut to drink!

    (4)

  • Jennifer L.

    Holy yumballs. Not particularly the cleanest food truck you ever did see (think olden Roach Coaches of yore, versus today's shiny hipster vans), but damn delicious shrimp. We shared the classic scampi and the spicy one, even after second thoughts once we saw the "no refunds" disclaimer. Would it really be THAT spicy? It was spicy, but certainly not inedible, and as most of the heat came off with the shells, it wasn't too bad at all, though you may not want to scoop the sauce onto your rice unless you really like setting your mouth on fire. Both dishes were great - I see what all the fuss is about. Hope for a windless day when you go though - eating outside in the gale force winds, especially a meal that requires an excess of napkins, is not ideal.

    (4)

  • Jessica F.

    i live in town and come here every month for their shrimp; sometimes twice, but "at least" once. a few weeks after my visit, i start to get mean withdrawals. brah, it's that good! their menu consists of four different plates: (all plates served with two scoops rice & a lemon wedge) 1. shrimp scampi - dozen shrimp marinated in oil, lemon butter & chunks of chopped garlic 2. the "no refunds" hot and spicy shrimp - dozen shrimp drenched in red hot sauce. *you're warned about this one 3. lemon and butter shrimp - dozen shrimp sautéed in a lemon sauce and butter 4. jumbo hot dog - huge ass hot dog topped with oil, lemon butter and garlic (same sauce as the scampi plate) i call this a happy meal :-) it looks just like my smiley i've tried all four. i'm just one of those who has a "usual" order at every restaurant, so despite my knowledge of other tasty dishes on the menu, i'll still stick to the same one... unless i'm in a different mood. my usual here is the shrimp scampi with hot sauce on the side. i could do the scampi without the side hot sauce, but i wouldn't go the other way around. it's not that i can't handle the spicy one on it's own.. it's just that i'd be missing the garlic! i LOVE garlic and spicy food. see, this way i get the best of both worlds :] i buy beverages here when we come spontaneously, but if our north shore trip is planned, we're pretty good about having a packed cooler. you save money bringing your own drinks - if you want to save, remember to pack a cooler! one last thing. seating area. there's about 6-7 picnic tables out in front of the truck. it gets pretty packed, but the tables clear out fast. you sometimes have to deal with swarming flies while you eat, but it's not too bad. i'll be back in a couple of weeks!

    (5)

  • George P.

    Keyword: Butter Garlicky Shrimp, One of the Best. When you're in Hawaii, you gotta experience the shrimp trucks, especially Giovanni. Its very basic, Olive oil, butter, garlic, "Secret sauce" probably MSG. One sign of caution though, you sorta have to lower your standard of sanitation.

    (4)

  • Jeanette Y.

    SHRIMP SCAMPI w/ a side of hot sauce, please! Seriously, the side of hot sauce really does make a difference. I tried the hot and spicy shrimp too, which realistically is the shrimp drenched in the hot sauce you can ask for on the side. The shrimp scampi is definitely the winner though. Who doesn't love a fatty, buttery, garlicky meal?! The only downside? The wait can be insane around lunch time and parking in the area really just sucks...

    (4)

  • Vi L.

    Meh. I like Macky's better. The spicy shrimp was pretty damn hot but the sauce was quite vinegary and unpleasant. The scampi was garlicky and delicious. The lemon butter was just boiled shrimp with lemon and butter.

    (3)

  • Are M.

    After a morning of surfing, we came here and had shrimp scampi. I love scampi and this was by far the best I have ever had. Wow.

    (5)

  • T T.

    Came here 06/2012 hitten up all the gotta go places and this was one of em. You gotta go! Good schrimp with a cutie working there, can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Derrick V.

    The #3 lemon shrimp wasn't so great because it's boiled in lemon, which you dip in butter when you eat it. They offered us a side of hot sauce from the #2 which helped a little. Shrimp were clean and deveined well. I'd go with the #1 scampi (cooked in butter) if I went again. Though I'd probably try the other Giovanni truck first. The hot dog was a pretty decent size and the garlic butter on top went well with it. Oh yeah the address is wrong, it's across the street from McDonald's. We went to the address posted on Kawoa Pl and it's WAY off.

    (3)

  • Joe C.

    In the battle of Gio vs Macky's, Gio still reigns true! (Altho Tito's Shrimp Truck tops them both..see review). Gio's takes the cake simply due to flavor...albeit almost too much sometimes. The shrimp and rice are drenched in garlic and sauce overpowering the senses and making you crave for more. The shrimp isnt as big and plump as the other places but the sheer power of the flavor makes up for it. It's such a huge contrast to Macky's that its almost incomparable. It really depends on what mood you're in to decide which truck to go to. Light or Intense.

    (4)

  • Bonnie C.

    You just have to eat at a shrimp truck while vacationing on Oahu. If you want the best, it has to be Giovanni's. You get a lot of great shrimp for a great price. They serve a lot of people but the quality of the food doesn't suffer.

    (5)

  • Claudia M.

    Came here bc i heard this was supposedly a good shrimp place. Honestly I didnt think there was anything to big here. There is limited parking near the truck so I suggest getting there early. The shrimp was tasty and delicious, especially with the garlic. But the pricing for the shrimp seemed a little overpriced. The benches were dirty and gross, plus there were a lot of bugs around trying to get at my food.

    (3)

  • Truong L.

    Butter Garlic Goodness! I love this place and want it again and again. plates a good size serving. Get the hot sauce on the side unless you can tolerate it but my wife and I could have ate that every day on our trip. Not a whole lot of space to sit down and eat...then again, it was full of people eating there food so good sign.

    (5)

  • JME C.

    Love the SCAMPI!!!!!!! It's 100% Garlic Heaven! The best! I get it every time. Ask for extra lemon and hot sauce. Yum Yum Yum! This location is much closer than the one out in Kahuku. Less crowded too. There are other food trucks in the lot that you can get a variety of other food (not just shrimp). TIP: Bring your own drinks and wet paper napkin to wipe the table and seats. People are slobs and they don't clean the tables for you. There is a sink with running water behind the truck to wash your hands when you're done eating. Minus 1 star for the swarm of flies that will attack you and your food. I hate flies! If you don't want the flies (for less flies), drive out even further to the Kahuku location. It's more traffic, more crowded, longer wait for your food.

    (4)

  • Ro H.

    The lemon butter shrimp was excellent. The line was long, but we got our food quickly. We enjoyed it so much, we went twice, and were pleased with both experiences.

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    Made a stop along Giovanni's while making a lap around Oahu. Now coming from California, I kind of use Boiling Crab as a standard measurement of awesome garlicky shrimp. And sorry Giovanni's but you don't match up to Boiling Crab. The shrimp here is overly fried, making the shells a little too crunchy to peel off, yet not soft enough to just bite down and swallow. After finishing, you could tilt the plate to the side and a pool of oil would collect, not too appealing I must say. Oh get me back to Boiling Crab already!

    (3)

  • Amy V.

    Unbelievable Shrimp Scampi! Super cheap and delicious...can't wait for my next visit!

    (5)

  • Samantha M.

    I was looking forward to eating here based on a recommendation from my friend, but once I had my food I was so disappointed. I ordered the shrimp scampi for $13 and it didn't taste anything like shrimp scampi, had little flavor, and the shrimp was overcooked (tough)....so not worth $13. The flies surrounding the place over your food and bothering you didn't make it any better. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone, or go out of my way to get there again. The only plus side is the shaved ice from Matsumoto's, which is just down the road from here.

    (2)

  • Hanna N.

    Shrimp scampi!!!!!!! You MUST lick off all the juices off the shrimp before peeling it to get the meat. It really is like nothing you've tried before, and the $12 a plate is absolutely worth it! The hot and spicy one really does burn the crap out of your mouth, but is strangely addicting and delicious. If you go, DON'T miss out on their original shrimp scampi flavor! Cash only!

    (5)

  • Stephen M.

    I LOVE this place! The shrimp scampi was amazing! The reason for the four start instead of five is because, I hate peeling the shrimp. The sticky rice was good and the hot sauce they give you was great. The fact that you can write on the van is just perfect. I really enjoyed eating here.

    (4)

  • Jerome T.

    I come to this place because of all the hype and positive reviews on yelp. This place is crowded and the line up for food is long. However, the service is very efficient and it doesn't take long for you to place the order. 10 or 15 min later or so you have your shrimp plate ready to eat. The taste is good, I would give it a four star if I hadn't tried anywhere else. I found the quality of the shrimp was just ok compare to its next door neighbor. The taste is very similar in both places. Overall a good place to stop by but would definitely choose it's next door neighbor next time I visit the north shore for shrimp plate.

    (3)

  • Tim B.

    If you're up in the north shore... make sure to venture over to this food truck! You get a plate with hella shrimp marinated in this delicious ass garlicy sauce and two scoops of rice with garlic chunks on it. word. (and then afterwards... go down the street to matsumoto's grocery store to get shave ice!!!!!!!!)

    (5)

  • David J.

    Had the famous Giovanni's Garlic Shrimp Scampi. This is a great location to go to if you don't have time to go all the way to Kahuku. Same great plate lunch, lots of shrimp, and well worth the price at $13. Love the huge chunks of garlic atop the scoops of rice! Cons: Can't help it, but it's good: Super greasy and lots of flies at the eating table. Be prepaed to burp up and reak of garlic all day long! Don't say I didn't warn ya!

    (4)

  • Kirkwood J.

    Scampi great, now surrounded by other food trucks, can find something for everyone!

    (4)

  • Sheryl G.

    what: a graffiti-covered white shrimp truck that is one of the oldest and most popular places to get shrimp! something good: omg if i had to chose one last meal on earth?? giovanni's shrimp :) you can't eat it everyday, but when you do it's so delicious that words can't even describe it !! and the garlic rice... ahh also to die for !! something not so good: it's far for us townies, but sooo worth the drive!! something to try: shrimp scampi with extra rice and garlic!!

    (5)

  • Tania C.

    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is AMAZING!!! They have fast, courteous service. The shrimp scampi is THE BEST! Hands down! I was in Hawaii for 9 days. We stayed in Pearl City and made it out to North Shore to eat there 2 different times. Their food is consistent and scrumptious. The garlic butter rice is soooo yummy! My son and husband were excited to write their name on the truck with a black sharpie.

    (5)

  • Dennis L.

    I am a Shrimp Lover. So, on top of how Giovanni's prepares it, I stuff myself full of the Hot & Spicy Shrimp with an extra scoop of steamed rice. Having the Hawaii feel eating outside of a tagged up Shrimp Truck outdoors is evidence of a Hawaiian Vacation coming from the main land. One can of soda isn't enough if having the Hot & Spicy, be warned.

    (4)

  • Matthew D.

    Tried this after we ate at Dat Cajun Guy. We shared a shrimp scampi, and it was delicious. You gotta stop at these two food trucks. A must if you find yourself near Matsumoto. Shrimp scampi with rice?!?!? Nice touch!

    (5)

  • Darcy K.

    OILY AND GARLIC-KY SCAMPI Gotta come here every time after a day to Waimea. If not, you drive back home feeling...empty. **ALL PLATES ARE $13 NOW** I ordered the Scampi today and learned one thing. Eat the rice fast cuz it gets hard and cold if you try to space it out between bites of shrimp. The food wasnt hot (temperature wise) today... Just room temperature... The garlic was crispy like it was from the bottom of the pan. My friend and I were thinking something was different about the taste, but we ate it all anyway. I have ordered the Hot and Spicy before. I am a huge fan of spicy but that was TOO spicy. It tasted like Sriracha and Tabasco and pepper...AIYAH!! I dont care for Tabasco too much so that could be a big explanation why I didnt like it :P They now offer mini plates for exactly half the price of a regular. ($6.50, for all you mathletes) Gotta try the garlic hot dog next time!! Two things I dislike about Giovannis: - The flies. So many of them come at once. Thats the price you pay for loving a truck that sells food out of it. -Oily as hell. I still have a stomach ache. I know, scampi is oily as hell and I had it coming. Im just sayin. My stomach cramps came and went throughout the night and carried on to the next morning. I am thinking they served us slightly old food? Maybe not a day old, but a couple hours past due. I have definitely experienced better from Giovannis Shrimp Truck... I wonder what happened.

    (2)

  • Mel P.

    Giovanni's is worth the 30 minute drive from Waikiki. They have three types of shrimp dishes: Scampi, Spicy and Lemon Butter I ordered a 1/2 & 1/2 plate for $12. I had half scampi and half lemon butter. They also gave me a side of the hot sauce, which isn't as hot as I thought it was going to be. The scampi was delish and the lemon butter was pretty good too. There really isn't anything I can add, that already hasn't been mentioned so I'll end with this tip: *bring a clear plastic bag filled with water and a penny. There are a TON of flies lingering around the picnic/dining area. It's hard to enjoy the shrimp with those little buggers all over the place.

    (4)

  • Andria S.

    A definite must if you are near the North Shore! The shrimp scampi were delectable!

    (5)

  • Reuben R.

    I told my friend that I wanted to go to north shore and she recommended we go to a shrimp truck because I never went to one before. We came early around 11 and there wasn't a crowd or anything, but already people waiting for food, with three orders in front of us. I ordered the spicy shrimp plate at $13 and a water to go with it for a dollar more. The shrimps were buried in a sauce that had chili pepper flakes all over its coverage, and it had a lemony taste to it! It was definitely spicy the whole way through. It came with a lemon slice and two small scoops of rice on the side. I think for $13 bucks it could have came with a bit more, but at least the shrimps were pretty good size. I wonder where exactly they're caught though, cause they taste different. Different good? I'm not sure. One down~ how many shrimp trucks are there out there anyway?? could be a lot, but I spotted a thai food truck in the corner, so that piqued my interests for sure.

    (4)

  • Alison V.

    I came here since I figured I couldn't be on the north shore and not hit a shrimp shack. For $13 I got 12 shrimp (deveined but not shelled) and two scoops of rice. I wish they had a smaller portion since I was alone and couldn't eat that much so ended up throwing a bunch a way. The price seemed a bit steep but I guess it's on par. Once I ordered the lady was already dishing up my food. The shrimp was steaming hot so I have no idea why it was already cooke but it was only slightly overdone. The service was ok but the people were by no means overly friendly. Not rude either. Just one of those meh experiences. I'm not a giant lover of hot shrimp but it was tasty. The rice had clearly been sitting and was a bit crunchy in parts. Also there were a ton of flies around which made it hard to sit and enjoy. Then again I guess you expect that with outdoor only seating.

    (3)

  • Sophana T.

    Best shrimp scampi in Hawaii hands down! This place was worth the 45 min drive. I ordered the hot & spicy shrimp....they were not playing regarding the spice levels. Don't get me wrong, the taste was great, but waaaay to spicy. I didn't complain, I ate the whole plate! the only reason why i didn't give it 5 stars, for the price you pay you would think they would give you the shrimps with the shell off. instead, it is on and it gets messy.

    (4)

  • Tiffany D.

    Overrated!! Overcooked and dry, the scampi was oily and not that delish at all... And the flies made u just feel like it all was way too unsanitary!

    (2)

  • Rob R.

    After trying Macky's, Giovanni's was a huge letdown. We tried the scampi, and it was so oily. More expensive, no salad, full of tourists - try one of the others - for me.

    (1)

  • Ashley G.

    Tons of food for $13. Super tasty, indulgent, fat-ass pleasure. Tons of garlic - tons of butter, tons of shrimp and two big balls of white rice to sop it all up. MMMMM. Problem.... there were so many flies it was kinda gross... oh well. Also! It comes up pretty fast so go slow when you're coming up to it. We went here after Hawaii Shark Encounters. Great day that i'll never forget :) Great tip! This super messy meal has a McDonalds right across the street [Clean bathroom to wash your nasty buttery/garlic mittens!!!]

    (4)

  • mike e.

    Overpriced garbage. They dont dont even use the original kahuku shrimp. they looked liked tiger shrimps to me. no quality whatsoever in the recipe. people buy the shrimps off the hype.

    (1)

  • Mimi C.

    giovanni's definitely has good shrimp. better than shrimp shack, imo. the shrimp they serve is really fresh (something about the springy texture) and they butterfly the shrimp for you so it's already de- veined. =) LARGE pieces of shrimp too. i thoroughly enjoyed sucking and peeling on those shrimp, so delicious (comes w/ a side of white rice)!!! Be careful not to eat too much cuz each shrimp is about $1. =P We ordered the 6 pieces original (garlic)... was about $6/$7. tons of people in their lunch bench area. after you're done you can go get yourself a hawaiian shaved ice. =)

    (4)

  • Janu A.

    Okay, so this was the second time I've been there. If I'd written a review about the first trip they would've gotten 1 star. The first time we went there we got the spicy garlic shrimp. Sooooo gross. It was just cooked in tabasco! The flavors did not mesh at all. YUK! A friend of ours convinced us to go back and get the garlic shrimp. Hesitantly, I agreed. Thanks friend! You were right! It was really good. Finger-lickin good. Seems like they're inconsistent based on everyone else's reviews. Someone said it was more buttery than garlicky. So not the case for me. Mine was garlicky goodness. Garlicky finger-licky goodness. Garlicky finger-licky-icky goodness. I'll be going back for sure, but never ever again will I be ordering the spicy one. screw you spicy one, you almost ruined it for me. p.s. bring a fly swatter!

    (3)

  • Kelvin C.

    Get the shrimp scampi... it's amazzzzing.... Better yet, ask for a side of their hot sauce ... mouthwatering.... The garlic butter sauce was so fulfilling that I could make a meal out of it with plain rice. I think their garlic is either roasted or caramelized because the garlic breath syndrome only lasted a few hours and also cuz the garlic was soo tasty and sweet. Combine this garlic shrimp with the beach and you have paradise. I regret not eating another plate before I left Oahu!

    (5)

  • KaThy T.

    I probably would rate this place higher if I didn't have a hangover the day I was there. Prepare to bring cash. The wait was long after we ordered. About 45 min wait when we were there. They have a smoothie/slushy truck there also along with other small food places at the tent area. They also had a small souvenier stand. Something to do as you wait. The taste of the scampi made me nauseous. I ate one shrimp and I was done. I did however eat some of the rice and all the mac salad. The mac salad tasted different from the other mac salads I've eaten. Less tasteful. I also ate a hotdog with the bun. I was tempted to get it w/ rice but I didn't. It was alright, but tasted kind of plain. My friend liked the spicey shrimp. Another friend said it was good but it takes over the taste of everything. FYI - rain can pour anytime. When we were there, people were eating at the tables by the trees. Out of nowhere, it started to pour unexpectedly and very hard. It sucked for those who got their food drenched.

    (3)

  • Ani A.

    The location is pretty good, it's very close to shark's cove and next to many other food trucks (almost all selling shrimp). The hot & spicey is not a joke, it's really hot, almost too hot to enjoy it. If you have someone with hawaiian id, they will get $2 off.

    (3)

  • Frank V.

    Two words: shrimp scampi. Price went up since I last visited 4 yrs ago though but the taste is still the same. Need to go shi-shi? Port-o-potty in back. Wash hands? they have a makeshift sink and some soap but no towels. Air dry bruh!

    (4)

  • Irene Marie A.

    My bf's friend recommended this place because of their shrimp. I could say it was pretty good because the shrimp was garlicky... Unfortunately, I wasn't eating rice so I couldn't review in how good it was together. The service was like other food trucks. Their food would've given them 4 stars but I couldn't say I haven't had better PLUS if you're someone who easily gets grossed out like me, this is NOT the right environment for you. I don't want to spoil the whole Giovanni's experience if you have never been but I suggest ordering and eating somewhere else. All in all, there was too much hype for a food truck at the North Shore. Although the food was good, it wasn't really all that.

    (2)

  • Jyl L.

    Garlic shrimp scampi was amazing and super flavorful. Good sized portion, be ready to get your fingers dirty!

    (5)

  • Andrea J.

    It saddens me that the quality of food here went down the shithole. But looks like a lot of people haven't noticed. Definitely overrated. Me and my family used to go here quite often many years ago, it was amazing. Visited this place earlier to get a couple plates. First of all, I thought it was odd that when we were done paying, they handed me a plate of the shrimp scampi right away. As if it was just sitting on the side. I wish I asked for a fresher plate but I didn't mind it too much. But I should've: the rice was a little crunchy... ugh. And is it me or the shrimp get smaller every time you visit?! Second, my bf got the lemon-butter plate. The butter wasn't even melted. And the shrimp smelled like an old wet rag, UNREAL smell. We're not usually nit-picky with our food but we weren't gonna risk food poisoning so we asked for a refund. The manager gave some attitude but fortunately gave us our money back. We're never coming back here that's for sure. To be fair, there weren't any lines so they get a star for that.

    (1)

  • Euge L.

    fyi, i can admit when im wrong. most recent visit, after swimming with some sharks on the north shore, we went by giovannis. they unfortunately ran out. we didnt bother with the other trucks. i figured it out. they are the best. they got it down.

    (4)

  • Nell C.

    Do you LOVE garlic? Don't shy away from this graffiti truck. After a good surf head over to Giovanni's Aloha Shrimp in Haleiwa. It's totally messy and you'll need to be grabbing the napkins after you are done. This garlic shrimp appetizer makes you coming back for seconds. Sometimes the best foods come from mom and pop shops.

    (5)

  • Angela Q.

    The butter garlic sauce is a bit more delicate here, which I like. Minus for all the bugs though.

    (4)

  • Maya S.

    Shrimp Scampi, from a truck! If you like garlic and juicy, fresh shrimp, order the scampi. Yes, you will need to freshen your breath afterwards. Giovanni's actually offers half plates so if you don't have the biggest appetite but you want to sample some shrimp, you can get half the portion of their regular plates for half the price. Make sure you squeeze the lemon wedge all over your shrimp and use the rice to sop up that garlicy, oily, saucy goodness. Next time, I plan to try the "No Refunds" hot & spicy shrimp!

    (4)

  • Eric F.

    The Shrimp Scampi and Lemon Butter Shrimp were both very fresh, but hardly worth the $13 per plate. A couple of my friends and I all agreed that the Garlic Shrimp at Sam's Kitchen was noticeably more flavorful. The hot sauce here is exceptional though, so perhaps the spicy shrimp dish is worth the money.

    (3)

  • Maddie C.

    Someone in another review said that "You can't top the scampi at Giovanni's." UH, YES YOU CAN. Go next door to Macky's. We've been going to the Kahuku location of Giovanni's for years. I think since 2001 or so. I've been a big fan. I brought friends there over the years, then family to eat there in 2008, then in 2011... Sure I'm from the mainland, but I know my shrimp dammit. AND THEN I TRIED THIS HALEIWA LOCATION. Ewh, gross, sad emaciated shrimp. I can literally put my Giovanni's shrimp pictures side by side since 2001 (shuddup, you're a foodie too and I know you compare food pictures) and **sigh** the deterioration of Giovanni's shrimp. For years they were plump, huge and juicy. Now they are sad, tiny and emaciated. The shrimp we got was so skinny and sad that the peel stuck to the shrimp. Just bring back the good plump shrimp Giovannis!Yes, the great garlic butter flavoring is there. Yes, that spicy sauce on the side is still friggin good. But the shrimp, it is all about the shrimp. And sadly, Giovanni's is no longer all about the shrimp. Time to move on. We have.

    (2)

  • Brad N.

    Good food, but I think the truck in Kahuku tastes better? Anyway, this one is almost as good and way closer to town. Get the shrimp scampi. This is by far the most popular and most ono option. $13 for a dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice. Pay $1 more for two extra scoops of rice with garlic on top. Do not get the hot and spicy. It is way too hot and spicy. If you're with a vegetarian friend, send them over to Opal Thai while you gorge out on your ocean friends.

    (4)

  • Belinda T.

    Okay, I've lived in Hawai'i for over a couple of decades now, and I have to say, only until recently have I heard about Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. I mean, I've seen their very noticeable white truck almost every time we trek around the island, but I've never known how their shrimp tasted. I would have to say that it was only until this recent past 2 years that I've been hearing about Giovanni's more often. Everyone has been raving about it and so I thought that it's about time that I try it. Darn...too much hype. It was a very disappointing experience to say the least. First of all, I have to point out that I tried the truck that was in Haleiwa and not the original in Kahuku. So, I was wondering if this was the problem. But in any case, I still thought that the hype on their garlic shrimp is very overrated. It was a plate full of oil. The garlic was present, which was a good thing. But I'm thinking it is because the garlic was to purposely overpower the less than fresh taste of the shrimp. Sadly, the shrimp did not taste fresh, more like pre-frozen. All in all, I should have stuck to my instincts and stayed away from Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, like I did all my life. The hype, oh, the hype. This was one I should have steered clear of...

    (2)

  • Jess C.

    My friends and I were driving here for lunch, and we were STARVING. They wanted to diverge from my very clearly marked, elaborate itinerary because they wanted food fast, and Giovanni's was 30 min away. Lemme tell you, getting 12 hungry people to trek 30 min for lunch is no easy task. As we were driving, my eyes were glued to the blue dot on my iphone GPS, mentally willing it to move more quickly. 5 minutes into it, my friend asks, "Didn't you say this shrimp truck had writing all over it? Because we just past one." Yelp have you led me astray?!!?! You said there was only one shrimp truck and it was 30 min away!! Actually, it turns out I was wrong because while there's two Giovanni's shrimp trucks, one is giovanni's "shrimp truck" and the other is the giovanni's "aloha shrimp" (though both have the same owners). Huge, fresh, SUCCULENT shrimp... I could eat two plates by myself (get the scampi and lemon butter) because $12 gets you 12 shrimp and a ton of rice. Do what I did - supplement your meal with a $3 hot dog, which would be quite ordinary without the pieces of delicious toasted garlic. I want to live in that truck.

    (4)

  • Alex H.

    Best shrimp truck on the North Shore! Always packed so there is a bit of a wait but it's well-worth it. $13 gets you a dozen good-sized shrimp (I like the scampi) and two scoops of rice. I will say that I wish the environment was a bit cleaner; with seafood leftovers everywhere the amount of flies that buzz around here is a bit disconcerting. But if you can handle that, this place serves the shrimp up right! They do it and they do it well! PS I wanted to try the sausage, but I was too focused the shrimp at hand!

    (4)

  • lisa h.

    Good shrimp! Long line! Lots of tourists to check out while you wait! :) We really liked the garlic, but weren't so much a fan of the spicy sauce (which tasted pretty much like souped-up Tabasco, ie, vinegar-y). Definitely hits the spot if you're in the mood for some shrimp. We'll keep bringing visitors here for the truck experience.

    (4)

  • Meghan S.

    It's shrimp bathed in butter and a pound of garlic people. How can you not love it!?

    (4)

  • Patrick S.

    Shrimp scampi mmm

    (5)

  • Alyson C.

    Can't get any better than this. The boyfriend and I strategically shared a single plate so we can make a comparison to another shrimp truck a block up. If you're in Haleiwa, this is in the across the street from McDonalds. Good thing I called or else we would have gone 15 miles on Kam Highway to go to the other location... Anyway, $12 for a plate of a dozen garlic shrimp scampi and 2 scoops of rice. The shrimp are so flavorful and the buttery garlic oil and minced garlic is fabulous to top over your rice. I am salivating just thinking about this. I shoulda known better than to ask for half and half (half spicy, half garlic) but I plan on coming back and conquering a full plate next time :)

    (4)

  • Paul S.

    I for one love hot spicy dishes. The hotter the better. So parking in a grass area by a shrimp truck with twenty other cars. I ordered a plate of "hot and spicy" shrimp and a can of Hawaiian Sun. Remember, cash only. If someone asks where the lava is in Hawaii. The lava is not in the volcanos. It's served out of a shrimp truck off the Kamehameha Highway. The shrimp was awesome, big and juicy. Everything you could want in a hot dish. Tons of tasty shrimp covered in their own special hot sauce next to a bed of warm rice. After eating a couple shrimps the sweet burn starts to kick in. Half way through I found out that my one can of Hawaiian Sun wasn't going to cut it. I am just glad that there was another truck next to the shrimp truck serving Hawaiian ice. Coincidence? I think not. The thing is. I couldn't stop eating the hot and spicy shrimp. It was that good. I ended up finishing the whole thing. Definitely worth the drive to get there and one of the most memorable meals in Hawaii. If you happen to be driving on the Kamehameha Highway and see Giovanni's. Pull off the road and park to have a great shrimp meal. I hear the shrimp scampi version is also awesome if your not really into "hot and spicy" dishes. But be warned. You are playing with fire with the "hot and spicy".

    (5)

  • Tricia K.

    What a terrific find! Super fresh, super tasty: my friends and I tried all three shrimp plates and loved everything we ate. We brought a case of beer with us, and it was like heaven to sit at these picnic tables enjoying the breeze and taking in our feast. If you like hidden gems, this is the place for you.

    (5)

  • Christine A.

    I was SO excited to try out this place but was so disappointed. This place is OVERRATED, I was not impressed :( First, you walk up to the shrimp trunk and there are masses of flies EVERYWHERE. My Indian friend admitted it was just like India. Ants crawling all over the picnic tables. I ordered the shrimp scampi (because everyone raved about it) and I got a plate with about 10 shrimp. $13 for 10 pieces of shrimp?! Despite the mounds of garlic sitting on top, the shrimp was not flavorful at all. It just wasn't that good. My 2 friends ordered the hot n spicy shrimp and they said theirs was very good, though EXTREMELY spicy (and this is coming from a Taiwanese guy and an Indian guy who normally order "extra spicy" wherever they go!). They don't give you any wet wipes, just napkins. Yea good luck getting your fingers clean afterwards. You will reak of garlic the rest of the day. Next time I'm in Oahu I'll be trying out a different shrimp truck....

    (2)

  • Ralph O.

    We came here again on our second trip to Oahu. We got the shrimp scampi which was delicious. I wanted to try their spicy shrimp but didn't want to risk a chance for heartburn. The cole slaw was also delicious. A must stop if you are visiting Oahu!

    (5)

  • Cara H.

    If you love garlic and don't mind burping it up the rest of the day, this is the place for you :D I love their Garlic Shrimp Scampi with Rice, YUM! Just the rice alone with garlic butter on top is sooo good! I stop at Giovanni's every time I visit home. If you're wondering if its worth the $13, yes it is. Its right near the Haleiwa McDonalds (for restrooms), Matsumotos (for shave ice), and of course the beach :)

    (5)

  • M P.

    Very good. Long wait. They got rid of the Coconut bread which was disappointing. I think the shrimp is frozen but the prawns are fresh. Both are amazing.

    (5)

  • Ashley E.

    I only crave Giovanni's shrimp on days ending in "Y". Each shrimp is a buttery, garlicky morsel of absolute heaven. (Seriously, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about them...) I highly recommend getting the hot sauce on the side - it gives you a lot of flexibility. It's fun to sit in front of the shrimp truck, but it's better to take your shrimp to go and eat on one of the many nearby beaches. Be sure to grab LOTS and LOTS of napkins, then plan to use the ocean to rinse off afterwards. ;) I resisted the notion of ordering seafood from a dirty truck on the side of the road for far too long...please don't make the same mistake!

    (5)

  • Justin H.

    I made a huge mistake when we went here and I ordered the lemon and butter shrimp instead of the garlic shrimp. My wife saved me by sharing her garlic shrimp and rice with me. Don't get me wrong the lemon and butter was still good, but nothing compared to the garlic. It was so delicious!

    (4)

  • Jennifer A.

    I read all over the place that when you go to Hawaii you must eat at a shrimp truck. So on one of our drives when we spotted Giovanni's we had to pull over. 12 large shrimp (we chose scampi) and two scoops of rice for 12 bucks. Cash only. I appreciated the shrimp we deveined but not deshelled. The garlicy sauce they were bathing in was plate licking good. I also saw some kitties walking around eating people's scraps. Made me homesick for my cats.

    (4)

  • Tran N.

    Yum shrimp! We got to Giovanni's 15 minutes before they closed and only had the shrimp scampi left. We ordered 2 plates and were not disappointed! The shrimp were big and juicy and there was a lot of garlic. The sauce tasted really good mixed in with the rice. There are a few benches to sit and eat, but beware of all the bees flying around trying to land on your food.

    (4)

  • Mangione M.

    Felt like a vampire slayer after consuming so much garlic

    (4)

  • Austin W.

    We visit here everytime we are on Oahu. Love the Shrimp scampi and garlic hotdogs. Although I love eating spicy, the Hot & Spicy was a little bit too spicy and sour.

    (4)

  • Jaymee C.

    Garlic Shrimp yummy!

    (5)

  • Andre F.

    A friend that lives on the Island brought me here as a plan B eating plan while showing me the sights of the North Shore. I secretly wanted to eat here, as I am a masochist when it comes to spicy food, and was excited to hear that the 1st shrimp place in mind was out of shrimp. I, of course I subjected myself to the Hot & Spicy shrimp plate. My friend had his doubts that I could actually finish the plate. I won't lie, I was slightly intimidated during the 10-15 minute wait; seeing people who ordered normally spiced shrimp after I did receive their order right away. I'm glad to say that crushed my buddies doubts by finishing the plate. The shrimp was flavorful (gaaarrlic!) & I'd have to conceive that the spice level rates pretty high in my book. I'll be sure to return to Giovanni's the next time I'm on the Island & highly recommend the Hot & Spicy shrimp plate to all of us that find pleasure in that burning sensation in your mouth.

    (4)

  • Anthony Z.

    First time lol

    (4)

  • J K.

    Really not that good. The garlic shrimp wasn't that flavorful. The hot sauce was good, but this is a SHRIMP truck, not a hot sauce truck!

    (2)

  • Jazeleene G.

    The shrimp scampi is amazing!!!! After we ate one plate we had to get another! I also got the lemon butter, it was okay--I recommend getting the shrimp scampi.

    (5)

  • Helen C.

    This was my second visit to Giovanni's. The first time I had the garlic shrimp (shrimp scampi) which is the most popular dish. Back then, Giovanni's was literally a truck on the side of the road with one or two ant-covered tables to the side. Now, there are a bunch of other food trucks nearby and the picnic tables have increased in number. But, the food remains largely the same which is nice to see. The shrimp and rice are dripping with garlic. Being garlic lovers, the hubs and I were loving it. Unfortunately, the shrimp were overcooked. But, hey, still yummy. We also ordered a half plate of the spicy shrimp. AVOID. This was not tasty at all and the heat of the dish overwhelmed the shrimp and garlic.

    (3)

  • James T.

    Nice lady in the truck . Food is just so so . Shrimp a little overcooked , flavor is okay .Oil, butter , garlic , and shrimp aaaahh , I am over it . Won't be going back there ever .

    (2)

  • Kim D.

    It is definitely worth the trek up to North Shore from Waikiki and it definitely lives up to ALLof the hype. My husband and I were driving along and saw one of the Giovanni Shrimp Trucks and were like "Damn, look at all those people..." and then later got hungry after we had kept driving and realized we were right in Haleiwa, so he decided that we HAD to try it. Perfect timing before they closed, but man, was it DELICIOUS. Tons of shrimp with Tons of garlic over a bed of white rice and with a Ton of buttery sauce. Must be eaten quickly at the benches provided in the dirt parking lot. A must do while on the island of Oahu. Shrimp scampi is the bomb yo.

    (5)

  • Roland L.

    I had a mixed time here at Giovanni's. We got there around 4 and they only had the garlic so we got three plates. $13 was pretty steep, (espcially u get no sides like salad/fruit) but heard great things about this place. The shrimp was good more buttery than garlic though like how you would expect and from eating other shrimp trucks. The shrimp tasted fresh but it was overcooked so it tasted like it was frozen. We got the hot sauce on the side and that was pretty GOOD actually i poured it all over my rice. If you are a clean freak or even just want a clean place to eat. This is not the place to go. I would recommend going back to the car. Away from the never been washed tables and hundred of flys near the trash, tables, and the portable potties. it wasnt even hot that day! If you want a cool experience you should go and check it out. If you want to write on the truck with a marker and be part of history go! But for the amount of money they charge it wouldnt hurt to at least try to clean up the truck and the table area. Spray for bugs and even play a little music.

    (2)

  • Lauren G.

    I'm a Texas girl and in the year I've lived here I've yet to find any dish here that was too spicy for me. I loveee jalapeños, habaneros, cayenne etc.. And usually the only thing people can offer me here is siracha. So when we pulled up to the Giovanni Shrimp Truck and I saw the "very spicy, no refunds" disclaimer under their spicy shrimp plate I was all over it. The first few bites weren't too bad and I thought it was a pretty decent flavor... Then the after-burn hit. It was insane. I went through 2 bottles of water as I ate and couldn't even get through half my shrimp because my tastebuds were burning. I wouldn't recommend this dish to most people, but everyone else at our table enjoyed their scampi and the portions were huge. Next time I'll just go with a side of the hot sauce.

    (4)

  • Hanna M.

    This place is great, but don't confuse it for Giovanni's in Kahuku! I think they used the same name so that it would confuse the hell out of people and drum up business for them, and geez, that worked!! The shrimp plate for $13 is really good. There were one dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice. The guy comped me a soda too. He was very nice so I didn't mind so much that I didnt go all the way to Kahuku to go to the right one. A lot of flies though!

    (4)

  • Lissa B.

    We actually didn't know where exactly this was but we asked someone in the North Shore marketplace where we can find it and it's located near the Mcdonald's on the opposite street. It's in this area where you see a bunch of food trucks but you have to make sure you pick the right one. We got the butter and lemon and the shrimp scampi. Both were really good. This is an outdoor area so be prepared. The area is not paved and you'll have to deal with the flies but other than that, you should at least try this once. One tip though, they only take CASH so make sure you have that when you come here.

    (4)

  • Sheila G.

    My bf suggested we go up to the North Shore to try the famous Kahuku shrimp as we've never had one before (that we could remember). A minute after passing Haleiwa on Kam Hwy, we noticed traffic and it stretched as far as the eye could see. We weighed our options in the car for a good 5 minutes; wait in traffic to try Kahuku shrimp or go to Haleiwa and try Kahuku shrimp. We weren't stupid enough to waste gas on shrimp so we opted to go to Haleiwa. So while driving through Haleiwa, we saw a bunch of food trucks parked on a stretched dirt of land and majority of them were shrimp trucks. We saw Giovanni's. No questions asked, we chose them. There were a bunch of people waiting for their food but no line. I ordered the shrimp scampi plate while my bf ordered the Hot & Spicy shrimp plate, both $13. I wasn't counting but I think there were a dozen shrimps. You also get two scoops of rice. We also ordered two bottles of water, $1 each. The cashier warned my bf that the plate he ordered was spicy and if he wanted, he could have the hot sauce on the side. My bf chose to have it incorporated in the shrimp. A very bad decision it was. The flavor of the sauce was not great. When we ordered it, we expected it to be hot of course, but also be able to taste the buttery/garlic part that everyone likes. Not this plate. All I could taste was vinegar or something similar to that flavor. My stomach can't take that kind of flavor when eaten too much, not in a bathroom way but in an achy way. As for the shrimp scampi I ordered, it was okay. It was good for the first few bites but after a while, I began not liking it. It could be due to the fact that I was also eating the Hot & Spicy shrimp :( OR because I kept waving flies away from my food. I think we stayed longer there than expected because we were too busy waiving away flies. Just that takes a way good experience... Anyway, I gave it two stars because: 1. It's expensive (total spent was $28 and it's served on paper plates) 2. Flies galore 3. Hot & Spicy shrimp plate sucked (my opinion only of course) 4. Too far of a drive even if it's in Haleiwa. Btw, listening to the GPS system was hilarious. Can they butcher any more Hawaiian words?

    (2)

  • Jesse F.

    My wife and I visited here for lunch today. We both love the "food truck" rave. Jennifer had the garlic shrimp scampi and I had the hot 'n' spicy. The garlic was okay and mine was definitely hot 'n' spicy. We probably will not try this spot again because we've experienced much better just down the road...Big Wave Shrimp, mcuh better flavor and a bigger portion size for the price.

    (2)

  • Hazel G.

    Before snorkeling at Shark's Cove, we stopped here to try the garlic shrimp. Giovanni's version of garlic shrimp is called shrimp scampi and its delicious. Each of their shrimp plates is $13 and comes with about a dozen shrimp and 2 scoops of rice covered in chunks of garlic. My husband ordered the spicy shrimp but he said it was too spicy and that it overpowered the shrimp. I recommend ordering a plate of shrimp scampi, propping down on one of the picnic tables, and enjoying the North Shore.

    (3)

  • Crystal H.

    Love the Kahuku truck. Try not to go to the Haleiwa truck because the woman there is rude and talks to people like they are stupid. I love the Kahuku truck because they are friendly, generous with the portion sizes and give lots and lots of garlic on the rice. Eat, drink and be merry here!

    (5)

  • O O.

    Been hitting up Giovanni's for decades, BB (before benches) and watched wanna be shrimp trucks crop up along the way. Haven't had the opportunity to eat other vendor's shrimp just because I've been satisfied with the original. But after all these garlicky years, they still don't know how to make rice. It's always hard and undercooked. Local yocal, here. Gotta have it hot and soft. You have to STEAM IT FOR 20 MINUTES AFTER IT'S DONE COOKING, then fluff it. Would improve the deal if they offered pasta instead of rice and maybe some sweet Kahuku corn, a la carte. But then again, they rule so they don't have to try to improve....yet. It's wonderful to have great, fresh country grown food even if you're only in sandy zoris. (Or maybe because you're in sandy zoris!) A must try, at least once or dozen. Great kitschy t-shirt. I have 4.

    (4)

  • Alexis M.

    Thanks to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck on the North Shore, i'll never look at mainland Hawaiian food the same way! This was my first visit to Oahu as an adult, and decided to try Giovanni's due to it's hype. At home on the mainland when eating at a Hawaiian restaurant, I always order the half order since I don't eat huge portions, so when coming to Giovanni's, I did the same. I ordered the shrimp scampi and it was delicious! Smoothered in garlic, butter, and a whole lot of onolicious-ness, I was in heaven. The half order had me craving for more! Needless to say, we ordered another regular plate to go, and came back on our very last day before heading back home to "bleh" mainland hawaiian food. Mind you, we were staying on the west side of the island and had no problem taking the hour drive just for another taste of Giovanni's Shrimp Scampi! There were other shrimp trucks along the way to Giovanni's and none had a line, and as many customers as much as Giovanni's did! I think that's a sign of who does Shrimp the best on the North Shore! So if you're on Oahu, no matter where you are on the Island, head up to Giovanni's! Your tummy and taste buds will Mahalo!

    (5)

  • Angela F.

    Shrimp scampi was delicious! This truck lived up to all the hype. Garlic sauce was so tasty and the shrimp was very fresh. The only negative thing was that it took awhile to get our food but I think it was because they ran out of rice at that time. I like the fact that they offer full and half-sized plates. It's $13 for a full plate and about half that price for a half portion. They also offer a few other options including a spicy shrimp plate. What's neat is that there are a few other trucks parked in the same lot (Thai, Mexican, etc.) so you have plenty of food options around. You have to visit Giovanni's on your visit to North Shore!

    (5)

  • Adam M.

    Pros: + A Hawaii institute. When you visit Oahu, you have to have the shrimp truck to make the experience complete. + Compared to the other shrimp trucks on the island, this one has it's own lot , picnic tables and parking (shared with several other food trucks), which makes visiting much safer and easier. + It has a sink in the back of the truck for you to clean your greasy hands after enjoying the shrimps + Generous portion for the price. Cons: - It's a food truck, so don't expect restaurant service. The picnic tables in front of the shrimp truck can be dirty and greasy. - The menu is simple, not to many choices - You will get your hands dirty from peeling the skins of the shrimps. But that could be part of the fun. - This is not 5-star restaurant. So the food tastes really just OK. But it is about the whole expedience, not just the food.

    (3)

  • Steve L.

    Our best meal during our entire trip throughout Oahu and Lanai! Lines were pretty big, but they take your order pretty quickly. The wait for the food itself was a little bit longer, but what do you expect when they serve 1/2 this side of the island.... We did one order of the shrimp scampi, and one order of the lemon butter shrimp. Just get the shrimp scampi. The lemon butter shrimp was ok, but after 2 or 3 it started to get a bit tangy for my taste. I kept stealing my wife's shrimp... :)

    (5)

  • Jocelyn L.

    One of my fave places on the North Shore; i used to go there 1x a month (when i lived in Honolulu); i still go there everytime i go to HI It's quite an experience and the shrimps are garlicky, fresh and yummy. Go right before lunch to avoid the crazy line/ wait. 11.15-11.30a seems to be the optimal time

    (4)

  • Denny K.

    The shrimp are a good size. I ordered lemon butter shrimp as well as their scampi shrimp. Both were good but not fantastic like everyone claims. The price is pretty much a dollar a shrimp so don't go there with an empty stomach.

    (4)

  • Keith Y.

    Fresh shrimp that pops in your mouth drenched in a satisfying rich butter and not too shy garlic sauce... Not much more needs to be said about this place, so if you're cruising the North Shore, stop here. Crowded? Probably, but the orders come out fairly quick considering the size of the truck and handful of staff. Sure the wafting aroma of shrimp & garlic will drive you crazy as you're sitting there in anticipation, so make good use of the time, put your order in, walk over to the Kahuku Superette right next door and get yourself an icy cold adult libation of your choice to wash down the shrimp and two scoops of rice. Afterwards, just remember as you sit back nice and full and look over the grounds and see two kitties lounging about, that they are two of the luckiest stray cats around, anywhere.

    (4)

  • Gary M.

    Giovanni's Shrimp truck in Kahuhku is a WINNER. Few years back the shrimp scampi served 13pieces for $13.00 and now it's a dozen for the same price. But the size has increased. Love the large portion of garlic on the plate too. Soaked in olive oil and garlic and then fried in margarine is the key for their success. The area has growned to a mini open market with selected multi-cultural stands. Sanitation wise I recommend you ask for alot of napkins or bring your own. Also hand wipes would be recommended. Oh and the bathroom, well it's about 100 yards away in the back. be prepared at all times lol...

    (4)

  • Tanya M.

    My husband and I were driving around and figured we'd give Giovanni's a try since we had heard raving reviews. I had the garlic scampi and my husband had the spicy. Honestly, I don't understand the hype. It was okay but nothing to write home about or pay $12/plate. Once the shell is peeled, it's kinda bland. We've made better scampi at home...

    (2)

  • Ashley W.

    Great fresh shrimp! So yummy and we went back before we left to try it again.The spicey shrimp is VERY spicey and I like spicey food so be careful.... Definitely get the scampi because it was excellent!!

    (4)

  • K K.

    OK, so I've never been to a shrimp truck before but the touristy books say to make sure you do it. I just had a huge breakfast two hours earlier so I went in pretty full already. In short, it was going to take a lot to impress me. It was pouring rain when I got to the shrimp trucks. And I mean pouring like it's WORSE than a shower. So when I get there I was not happy to see picnic benches outside and some tarps. I don't need foo-foo surroundings, but this was definitely going to impact the experience. Also, there were about 8 shrimp trucks all parked in the same parking lot. But Giovanni's is well known and highly rated so we picked that one. Why it's called Giovanni's and not King Kamehameha's or Don Ho's or something like that is beyond me. The food is amazing and so cheap. I'm not one of those guys who are posers or overly macho. So when I get my order, the shrimp has the shells on it. I ask the guy if I'm supposed to peel these things or if he gave me the wrong order. He said he just eats it whole, shell and everything. I think the only thing is that I would've liked to have the shrimp peeled. It might have taken away from the taste, but when you peel them, the sauce comes off anyways. I tried one with the shell on it. But I'm not used to eating crunchy shrimp. Call me wimpy or a spoiled Westerner, but I peeled the rest with messy fingers. READER TIP: GET LOTS OF NAPKINS IF YOU'RE GOING TO PEEL. But still the food is amazing. Why they don't have this in LA, SF and other big areas is a mystery to me. Everywhere has shrimp and this stuff sells itself.

    (5)

  • Liena N.

    Pictures and words do not justify how good this place is. The line is just always really long.

    (4)

  • Nhu-Quynh N.

    First timer, and I definitely love it. The Scampi Shrimp is probably what I most likely recommend. I tried the Hot and Spicy, it really is HOT and SPICY, but too over flavored. You can just get the Scampi and a side of hot sauce and just dip it for the flavor. The Garlic Rice was really good. The Garlic Hot Dog was good too. Service was fast. Definitely worth to go find and go back to. :D

    (5)

  • Kenson K.

    I didn't know Giovanni's had a truck in Haleiwa. When I came back from my shark tour in Haleiwa I was thinking about Giovannis but didn't want to make the trek all the way to Kahuku. Thanks goodness they had a 2nd truck in Haleiwa. I love Giovanni's. The chilli pepper shrimp is a bit too spicy for my taste but the garlic shrimp is awesome. This is perfect. This new place is just 20 minutes from where my folks live so I can have this everytime I visit Hawaii. Yay!

    (5)

  • HImom A.

    After writing this, I received a nice email from Jorge, who is the marketing person at Giovanni's. He said he would be passing on the info to the owner, and they would be working to ensure that both locations had equally good food. I think this really shows dedication to customer service, so I'm giving them 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    Simple yet very addictive. Follow the instruction and you'll be just fine. 1. Order from 3 items: Scampi, Spicy, or Lemon Garlic. Don't even bother looking at other items cuz you and I know that you didn't come for them. Shrimp all the way. 2. Pay with cash and wait. You can get drink if you'd like. I suggest a drink if you're getting the Spicy cuz they really are. 3. Sit down by near benches and dig in. You'll be battling with flies after every bite. This is what will happen. You'll take a bite of shrimp. Wipe your mouth. Wave your hands to distract flies nearby. Repeat. They're so annoying but won't give up easily. 4. You can eat the shrimp in three ways. A) Nake all 12 shrimps before eating to avoid later works. B) Forget the skins, just eat the whole thing. It's crunchy. C) You'll notice that there's crack in the middle of shrimp, so nake the one side and the other and eat up as you go. It's smart and fairly easy. 5. Once you're all completed, your fingers will smell - bad. There's water fountain nearby and go wash your hands cuz you don't want to hold your spouse/girlfriend hands after eating these. 6. Head toward to nearby Shaved Ice place (I recommend Matsumoto) for some dessert. Mission accomplished. Welcome to North Shore.

    (5)

  • K. L.

    If you're from Orange County, CA or if you live anywhere where they have cajun crawfish, skip this place. My family and I went on yelp and saw all the great reviews, plus this place was recommended to us by so many people so we had to try it. We are BIG foodies so we try to seek out the best places to eat wherever we go. After our first bite, our thoughts were, "what's the big deal???" This place has NOTHING on Boiling Crab or any shrimps from any crawfish places that can be found all around O.C. We were quite disappointed really.

    (3)

  • Erika W.

    It's good, but not as good as Romy's! I sampled both during my Oahu vacation and found Giovanni's to have slightly smaller, drier shrimp than Romy's. That's not to say you won't walk away satisfied, though.

    (3)

  • Heather S.

    Extremely disappointed with the hour drive it took to get here from Waikiki. The shrimp was overcooked and the rice was extremely soggy. We tried all three flavors and left unsatisfied. The spicy one just tasted like a bunch of tabasco sauce all over it. The garlic was pretty bland and the lemon butter was just shrimp with a side of lemon butter in a cup. But I had to try it because everyone talks about Giovanni's. Glad I got it out of the way.

    (2)

  • Donna L.

    Giovanni's was good, you should definitely try if you're a first timer. My first time there, the line was long but moved pretty fast. When you order and pay, you receive the food right there. They didn't have to call out names so that's a plus! I got the lemon butter shrimp. The sauce was good. Shrimp was cooked to perfection and it was equally lemony as it was buttery. A little more on the tangy side. I felt like something was missing in the flavor.. Maybe adding some garlic flavor in it would've been a nice touch. Half a dozen is really not enough! I literally went through it in a few minutes and wanted more because I was hungry. I have to be honest, I thought it was going to be so much better because of all the hype. Giovanni's was good but it wasn't extraordinary. Is it because I didn't try the shrimp scampi? Is the scampi the hype?! The one thing I didn't like was the area the truck was at because it felt a little bit grimy. There were picnic tables but they weren't clean and there were leaves falling everywhere, roosters, baby chicks and their whole family walking through my legs and turkeys chillin on the side of the truck There are other trucks around as well, I had a coconut drink at the booth next to Giovanni's so that was refreshing and went well with my shrimp I would come here again because even though it wasn't anything special it was still good. Next time I will have to try the shrimp scampi! Tip--I recommend not wearing sandals

    (3)

  • Lynn T.

    I've always heard so much about this food truck and I finally got to try it! And boy did it live up to its hype. The shrimp scampi is a must! Be prepared to get your fingers dirty since the shrimp comes unpeeled. For $13, the dish comes with 2 scoops of white rice topped with chucks of caramelized garlic and a good amount of shrimp. The shrimp are drenched in A TON of freshly chopped garlic and lemon butter. It is amazing! I would recommend only ordering the shrimp scampi (it's the best item on the menu) and to get your own plate because you won't want to share!

    (5)

  • Amanda A.

    Got the best of it all. Spicy, butter, and scampi.. All were amazing! Best shrimp I've had by far. I liked that the scampi came with garlic on the rice, and the butter was just amazing.. I dipped all 3 flavored in the butter it was just that good!! I loved the atmosphere and the constant flow of people in and out. Very fast service!

    (5)

  • Jennifer P.

    Five stars on the shrimp! But the flies, they are annoying and gross. There are many other food trucks here so make sure you go to the one with all of the writing on the truck. If were a fly, I would live here too! Stickey white rice, lots of garlic and very large shrimp so good! This is a must do in the North Shore. Do NOT miss this stop!

    (4)

  • Celina Q.

    Yup, the oil, the garlic, the carbs. When in northshore, gotta stop by the shrimp truck! While you meaters may have preferences to garlic shrimp plates, I adore Giovanni's for offering garlic butter rice for $1. On this President's Day Monday, the rice was a bit too sticky and hard, but hey, I aint gonna complain for only $1, and the amount of people in line.

    (4)

  • Elaine G.

    To be honest i'm not sure if I went to the "original" or not because this location was in a parking lot with other food trucks but either way it was still the authentic deal, so I can't complain if it wasn't. For anyone that knows what Boiling Crab or similar is, it's kind of similar, only that maybe 10x more buttery, which I make sound like a bad thing but nope, just saying that's the difference to me. We tried the scampi (mmm so buttery and yummy) and the spicy shrimp, which I only thought was OK b/c I wasn't a fan of the heavy Tabasco flavor. If you love Tabasco sauce, then definitely get that one, but if you were expecting some unique blend of hot and spices then i'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Each plate runs at like $12-13 and comes with white rice. Their macaroni salad is good too which is $1.50 for a small cup. We went on a Saturday afternoon for lunchtime and the line/wait wasn't too long, I think maybe 10-15 minutes total wait time. Have some wet naps handy...your greasy hands will thank me later!

    (4)

  • Valerie R.

    For the record, I don't like eating shrimp! I don't like how they taste, how they look, and their texture... But Giovanni's changed my life! While exploring North Shore, my bf & I visited the truck because he loves seafood and everyone recommended this place. I was starving and decided to give it a try - I can never say no to garlic! We ordered the scampi and lemon butter shrimp. To my surprise I wanted more and more and more. It was so good, I was even sucking the flavor off the skin lol Long story short - their shrimp scampi is bombbb. Turned me into a shrimp eater!!

    (5)

  • D d.

    Ate at both locations, this location (Haleiwa) has a smaller parking lot and smaller location. Limited seating outside the truck. Nice shady and cool location with chickens running around. The truck is not visible from the street, and it's very obscured by trees. For the first time haoles: Yes, it's the small and dirty looking van/truck with the long line. Don't be fooled by the other truck/vans in the same parking lot. No restrooms available or hand washing stations like the Kahuku location (Don't even be tempted to use the McDonald's bathroom across the street--they have no public parking or public restrooms available to use without purchase). Food was great. Line looks long but the food comes out relatively quick. Shrimp is deveined for the shrimp snobs out there, but the skin is left on. My tip: Have one person order all the food for everyone and have the rest of your party find somewhere to sit. Bring hand sanitizer.

    (4)

  • Kristine R.

    This food truck is located in Kahuku which is NOT near the other food trucks in Haleiwa. I spent forever trying to find this place in Haleiwa one time that I gave in and ended up eating someplace else because I was so hungry and I was tired of looking for this place. The garlic shrimp (shrimp scampi) here is the bomb though!!! I still prefer Macky's garlic shrimp over Giovanni's but I definitely was not disappointed in their food here! The prices were comparable to Macky's. The food portion is generous! The vibe here is great too with loud music and lots of friendly families around.

    (4)

  • Celia Z.

    This place is delicious. I went in with purposeful low expectations. Throughout the last month, my friend had been building up the hype - saying that we absolutely had to go to North Shore and get shrimp truck. Not wanting to be disappointed, I told myself it wouldn't live up to the hype. I got the hot and spicy shrimp while my friend got the lemon butter shrimp. The line was a tad bit long when we first arrived, but the food was worth it. Filled with sauce and butter, the shrimp was plump and juicy, and the rice was perfect for soaking up the leftover garlic and spices. I got the Hawaiian soda (what my friend called sugar water), which worked well to wash down the meal. Dirty hands from peeling shrimp, mouth filled with buttery deliciousness, I felt as if it were a rhythm: peel, eat, drink, repeat. I don't think I'll ever look at shrimp the same way again. Guess I set low expectations for nothing.

    (5)

  • Kenny L.

    HOLY SMOKES, Giovanni's has blown my mind and just too amazing. Best Shrimp I have ever had and I still don't know how they do it Yes this is the "dirtier" Giovanni's as I've heard but damn IDGAF! Still a lot of people come to this location. They even have the other cats selling the same stuff but no one is going to those. Everyone know's what's up here. Ordered: 1. Lemon Butter - this is alright, but I used a lot of the butter to make it 10x better! 2. Garlic Shrimp - so much garlicky goodness. This was to kill for. no joke. Anyways, i literally devoured all that shrimp because of all the fies and bugs in the vicinity. I cant even imagine how many more bugs there are when it's super hot in the summer. Lastly. this was SO GOOD, i got another full order of the garlic shrimp to-go take back to Waikiki. Had to do it

    (5)

  • Naz A.

    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck was pretty damn good. The serving size is good - two scoops of rice and a dozen shrimp. My only complaint was that you had to peel the shrimp and with it being so hot, it was kind of a pain in the butt. We eat spicy food, but heard that the spicy option was insanely spicy and so we didn't order it and instead got the other two styles and asked for a side of the hot sauce they used in the insanely spicy option. The fact that there is a sign that says something along the lines of "Spicy is VERY spicy. No refunds" was a good indicator that it was probably too much, even for us spicy, spicy food eaters. I loved that it was in the North Shore of Oahu (I fell in love with the North Shore). Just wished there was more seating options. That place is constantly busy, so more seating would be nice. Prices are affordable... $12 a plate, I think.

    (4)

  • Tuioleloto S.

    My sister told me that they are the best shrimp truck, and I think it's safe to say after trying shrimp from a few other trucks that they indeed do have the best shrimp. You can so easily tell by their long lines, the wait wasn't all too bad but it was WORTH IT. a must try when you're down in North Shore .. Loved how well seasoned the shrimp was and it was nice and juicy ;) don't forget to sign your name on the truck!!

    (5)

  • Clarence A.

    Was it heavy? Slightly! Was it worth the drive sure why not. Here is what we sampled and how it ranked!!! The shrimp scampi - 2 scoops of rice with garlic topping the white rice, helpful serving of shrimp on the plate a lemon wedge to break up the 2scoops of rice and the buttery sauce or oil underneath it all, the rice slowly drains it by absorbing all the juice. Was it spicy to me no, my son on the other hand said too spicy mind you he is 4 so to me it was not spicy at all. The shrimp was tender well seasoned you could taste the butter, garlicky goodness on every bite, portion wise for one person good!! Will I be back sure why not, that's why you go on vacation to try what everyone else tries and give your take on it! Shrimp scampi **** buttery, garlicky goodness Service **** quick, efficient, friendly and helpful Price $$ cash only folks Ambiance *** outdoors, Picnic tables, portapottys, wild roosters and chickens walking around, parking is limited during peak hours "lunch time"

    (4)

  • Johnny C.

    First time at this location, and i like it more than the North Shore location. Much more shade and seating, but the same amount of flies. I love the garlic rice, and the shrimp are nice and plump. Be warned that the spicy is pretty spicy and no take backs! No bathroom so we had to sneak our way to the McDonalds across the street to clean up.

    (5)

  • Victoria J.

    For years now I've been reading about the great Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. So maybe my expectations were pretty high. We tried a half order of the shrimp scampi and I'm glad we only got a half order! The shrimp itself was not good--overcooked, not tender, with a very tough exterior shell. Also, my order came out right away, meaning it was pre-made and not freshly prepared. We tried Honos and Dat Cajun Guy in this trip and those took longer to come out, but they were superior because they were freshly prepared, the shrimp was succulent, and much juicier than Giovanni's. Overall, definitely skippable especially with other great options right in the vicinity! Honos is great for a direct comparison, but Dat Cajun Guy is awesome for a unique take on shrimp.

    (2)

  • Cynthia B.

    Food trucks are a big deal on Oahu. In a parking lot in Haleiwa, a half dozen trucks offer their goods. I ordered anhalf/half which was half spicy, half garlic scampi shrimp from Giovanni's. It didn't disappoint. Lines are long, awnings are low (duck), and service is slow, but worth the wait. Fresh and finger licking good, served on a paper plate. Grab lots of napkins!

    (4)

  • Shruti J.

    This much hyped place is just about alright! I love shrimp and I love garlic and I was excited to go try Giovanni's shrimp truck. I would say I was a little disappointed. They take really long to serve and the shrimp was good, not great! I am NOT saying I will not visit Giovanni's again! I will visit them with far less expectations to not be disappointed again.

    (3)

  • Mellani L.

    DEEEE-LISH! I don't even like seafood all that much. I heard all the hype about Giovanni's and being a non-seafood lover I was skeptical to try it. I'm so glad I did though! First off, don't even try to use yelp/google maps to find this and the other location. I swear it kept leading us no where! But after a while we finally found it! The wait wasn't too long. I ordered the shrimp scampi which was basically a dozen shrimp in a garlic sauce with two scoops of rice. The shrimps were huge, it was already headless with the shell already split down the back for easy peeling! It was so good! After a day exploring North Shore this definitely hit the spot! I demolished the entire plate. Unfortunately, there isn't a place to wash hands. And after handling all that shrimp and garlic I really needed to. For a non-seafood lover this was for sure one of my favorite things I got to eat on the island! So yummy, so garlicy, so delicious!

    (4)

  • Chynna D.

    I was so excited to taste Giovanni's shrimp. I read lots of good reviews so I was really looking forward to the experience. The anticipation continued to build as I drove into the parking lot and saw the line that was formed Infront of the food truck. Finally it was my turn to order and I had selected the shrimp scampi and my BF orderered the lemon butter shrimp. Sadly to say once we had tasted our dishes we were both very underwhelmed. Shrimp scampi was very oily and bland and lacked the freshness compared to my last shrimp truck experience.

    (1)

  • Leanne C.

    You MUST try the shrimp scampi--perfectly cooked, plump shrimp, covered in a deeeliciousss garlic sauce. The shells just fall right off. And the garlic rice is sooo good. This is what people crave Giovanni's for. Tip: Go for the full plate, especially if you're sharing. Seriously, the shrimp scampi is worthy of 5 stars. I went back twice within a two hour timespan because a half plate just wasn't enough #noregrets Also ask for their yummy hot sauce! 4 stars overall because the lines get looonnggg and the remainder of the menu is nothing special. Our group also ordered the lemon butter and it was very underwhelming--cooked shrimps, plain rice, and a cup of lemony butter. Pass on that.

    (4)

  • Tracy N.

    Drove up to North Shore to try out Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. I've heard such amazing things about this place and have been dying to eat it. We ordered the shrimp scampi and the lemon butter. I didn't think there was anything special about the Lemon butter and it lacked a lot of flavor. The shrimp scampi is definitely the better between the two and was very garlicky. 12 shrimps and comes with two scoops of rice. It's tasty but I didn't feel like it was anything I couldn't make at home. All you taste is garlic and not a lot of dimension of flavor and all the ingredients and items are of mediocre quality. Needless to say I was disappointed. Even more so when I went to Mackys and liked it so much more!

    (3)

  • Karen S.

    Shrimp was tasty greasy goodness. We haven't managed to eat at the other shrimp trucks so can't compare, but Giovanni's is awesome. Plus there is a shaved ice truck beside it for after shrimp goodness :) be warned though - spicy shrimp is very hot! (Tabasco spicy)

    (5)

  • JK C.

    So flavorful!!!!! I don't care of anything else. Shrimp scampi is absolutely delicious!!!!!

    (5)

  • Rachel I.

    Delicious! For $13 (Shrimp Scampi) you get 2 scoops of rice (topped with garlic sauce), 12 Jumbo Shrimp and a large lemon wedge! I've lived in Hawaii my entire life and I can't recall when the last time I made the drive to the North Shore to get their shrimp! So per Yelp reviews, I was torn between Giovanni's and Kahuku Shrimp trunk. My SO other and I were open to either one but just so happened there was heavy traffic in Haleiwa so we just decided to try Giovanni's because it was closer. Besides the awful tourist and their lack of ALOHA spirit driving, we finally managed to score a parking stall in their cramped parking lot which is shared with other food trunks. (we later return to our car to find that someone blocked us in-thanks jerk!) The line was long but it wasn't unreasonable for a Saturday, late lunch-early dinner time. As we stood in line, the hundreds of flies swarmed the area and I heard people getting turned away from other tables because they weren't customers of their food trunks. The time we got our food their was no where to sit and we ended up driving to a near beach to devour our meal. THE FOOD: Messy? Yes! Be prepared with wetnaps as Giovanni's only provides napkins. The shrimp scampi was very well seasoned- my technique was to suck off the sauce before removing the shell. But the rice...was mushy! I'm thinking they added too much water or didn't let the rice sit long enough before they scooped it because it was compressed and mushy! Definitely not the way the locals eat rice (does anyone prefer rice this way?!) Overall, good shrimp, bad rice, bad parking but what can you say? The North Shore is a tourist town. Next time, I am coming for you Kahuku Shrimp Trunk!!!

    (4)

  • Paul K.

    Decent shrimp truck. A bit pricey for what it is, but you should try it at least once to see if it's worth the hype. I think I've been spoiled by Boiling Crab. The shrimp here are nowhere near as flavorful...pity. Also you don't get that many shrimp in the order. Note that only the benches and tables directly in front of the truck are for Giovanni's seating...the lady in the Korean truck next door doesn't like it when you sit at the benches in front of her truck. Also there are like a billion flies in the area.

    (3)

  • Terrance D.

    I hate flies. This area was swarming with flies. I deducted 2 stars for the fear that one of the hundreds of flies in around the shrimp trucks would land on my food. Some flies did eventually land on my food... Parking is almost impossible to get since they are very popular. I did a taste test: Giovanni vs Honos. They were next to each other, so I curious who was better. After ordering garlic shrimp from both place, Honos win. Giovanni is still good, but not as good as Honos. For not having better shrimp than Honos, I deducted another star.

    (2)

  • Lula P.

    I Love thee shrimp plates here, but Giovanni's is in need of Customer Service Training for @few of its employees. It's not enough that you are known just for your Famous White Shrimp, but you needs to back it up with Quality Customer Service. .!!!! lula@pc

    (3)

  • Britney U.

    Wanted to eat here just to see what the hype was all about and because I LOVE shrimp. When we got to the truck there were a couple of things that stood out to me: - The parking lot was rather small, we were really lucky to find a stall. - I don't know if its just when we were there, but there were SO MANY FLIES. It was really hard to eat in comfort when every couple of seconds we had to shoo away the flies. - Also, I know the truck is rather old, but the exterior was kind of unappetizing to look at. I thought the shrimp was okay. Not enough to drive all the way here to eat again.

    (3)

  • jack d.

    We visited yesterday and I found Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Haleiwa by accident. I took a wrong turn off of Hwy 83 and was hungry so I pulled over. Giovanni's is like a small scale version of the Original Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in North Shore. It's surrounded by other food trucks as well as a shaved ice truck. My problem is the parking lot is smaller, the tables aren't clean and way to many pesky flies. The clean up station is in the back of the truck and I did not see any public restrooms, had to go to McDonald's across the street. The shrimp on the other hand are just about the same as the original. Had the shrimp scampi and lemon shrimp- each item ($13,00) Go with the scampi if you like a garlicky shrimp flavor. My personal recommendation. I am sure it's always crowded also. (Cash Only)!

    (4)

  • Chris F.

    OVER RATED. this was one of our first meals on Oahu and one i was really looking forward to. I love food trucks and i love shrimp, how can i go wrong with a Shrimp Truck in Hawaii? It wasn't the gross looking truck that gave this place two stars. it was the fact that i had to eat my lunch with a million flies landing on me and my food and the fact that the shrimp was a p.i.t.a. to peal (X2) since i had to peal the wifes shrimp as well. I know you get what you pay for and its a food truck, but in my opinion it wasnt worth the stop. I only had so many meals to eat on the island that I was frustrated to waste one of them here. The shrimp wasnt really even that good, Maybe im spoiled living near the coast of New England.. One thing that helped this place was it was next to another truck that sold really good frozen drinks!

    (2)

  • Gillian T.

    Tried both Giovanni trucks and I highly suggest going to the other location. This has a smaller seating area that isn't cleaned or wiped down like the other one. Parking is harder. You sit under trees that keep raining down their leaves. Plus, there were A LOT more bugs here. It felt so unclean that I asked for our food to go. The line however is a little shorter but still long! If you do decide to come here, make sure u pick the right truck since there are a few shrimp trucks in the same tiny lot. The one next to it looks exactly the same (Hono is also a white food truck with graffiti and neither are labelled very well)

    (2)

  • Harry N.

    This place is worth the line. Definitely recommend stoping at this place to try to Spicy Cajun Garlic Shrimp!!! When we got to Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, everyone was saying you need to try the shrimp trucks on your way to the north shore. You won't miss this place. It's on the 83 Freeway. There was literally 100 people waiting in line, and you can smell the Garlic as your driving by. Each plate is about $13, but it comes with plenty of food.... Definitely recommend trying it.

    (4)

  • Inyaface07 0.

    Best shrimp in town by far! Plate 1 shrimp scampi or plate 2 lemon butter... Can't go wrong with it. Just gotta deal with the parking spot! Other than that it's worth it and get pretty busy and they remain consistently busy throughout the day!

    (5)

  • Michaela B.

    Ahhhhhh!! Love this place!! Located on a little lot along the street w/ other food trucks! This is the only one that ever has a line, so you know it's good. If its your first time, I would recommend the original. You can never go wrong. Get ready to get your fingers all dirty! Go right when they open, of after the lunch rush.. Because the line can get pretty long!!

    (5)

  • Romes R.

    The shrimp scampi is really good. I would also try the frozen smoothies. The are amazing (this is a different truck to your left) You can't miss the trucks is right off the road.

    (4)

  • Mojica A.

    If u dont want to waste ur money... dont come here... its a waste of time.. this hype of this place is false!! K the hype of this place is so dissapointment.. first, the server that was taking the order was so rude when she is the one who made the mistake taking our order... second, the shrimp was a bit blend of there flavoring.. third, the hotdog was so recommended here but dang the hot dog was so salty and I don't even taste the garlic on it... it's mostly a regular hot dog with little garlic... waste of money...

    (1)

  • Linda S.

    Bleh. Went to macky's prior to coming here and let's say I prefer macky's and here's why.. Giovanni's shrimp were overlooked because the shell stuck with the meat. I ordered lemon (butter) pepper, hot and spicy, and shrimp scampi. The lemon pepper lacked flavor big time! The hot and spicy actually had heat with a vinegar based. The shrimp scampi wasn't bad either but I'd prefer the other spot. Just for your dining purposes, it's located among a bunch of trucks as well so you can keep your options open.

    (3)

  • Ann C.

    HYPED UP SHRIMP: DELICIOUS! Shrimp scampi plate for $13 was yummy. Pros: Large shrimps Packed with garlic butter flavor Lived up to its hype Cons: Rice was mushy and gross Food got cold fast (windy day) Cash only Burps Warning: you will have massive gross garlic burps all day long! Like the kind where you can't even hide it. So if you on a date I advise you to skip it and get fish and chips next door from Zanes ;)

    (4)

  • Roland Y.

    Giovanni's is the bomb! It has to be if you have to drive all the way. Great food if you like tons of garlic. And I do.

    (5)

  • Christina N.

    Tbh, Giovanni's is overhyped, and overrated. It coulda just been an off day, but I don't plan to ever give it a second chance. Rather check out another low-key spot. Order two dishes, their most famous Shrimp Scampi and their Lemon Butter Shrimp. I'll admit prices are fair, portions are appropriate for what you pay...only if it was as good as you'd expect. The Shrimp Scampi was just wayyyy too overbuttered for me, they even drizzled the rice scoops with their buttery ass concoction and I swear I got a least one pimple after this meal. The rice was completely overcooked, so mushy that there was no single rice grain still intact. That, with the addition of butter over the top...I couldn't finish either of my scoops of rice. The shrimp's flavor was aighht, a hint of garlic, though I anticipated a little more given the hype. Can't say what...but just more. The Lemon Butter flavor was horrible...shrimp was overcooked, so tough and it was merely boiled without any seasoning. The lemon butter flavor actually comes in a little container on the side...if I wanted plain ass boiled shrimp and some butter on the side, I woulda made it myself. I was really rooting for this spot, it was suggested by so many locals but no frontin...I did not enjoy that meal whatsoever.

    (2)

  • Dragana N.

    I have heard so much about this place, so while visiting Oahu, I decided to check it out for myself and see what the hype is all about. This place proves that you can make an absolutely amazing dish with just a few simple ingredients. I ordered their scampi scampi dish (most popular), made with a load of garlic and butter and served with plain garlicky rice and a few lemon slices. It's very simple but absolutely delicious! The portions are also big as each plate comes with 12 peaces of jumbo shrimp. I also found the shrimp to be very fresh and perfectly cooked. If you are in the area this place is definitely worth checking out!

    (5)

  • Sean B.

    For years I'd heard all about the hype with this place. Locals told me I HAD to go to the north shore to check it out. Other tourists told me that I was missing out if I'd been to Oahu 10 times and never made it here. It was super-hyphy. So finally, I went. Because I was trying to go to the north shore to lay on the beach, and it was raining when I got there. So it turned into a 1 hour drive to get shrimp from a truck. Alrighty then. I dunno, y'all. I mean, I enjoyed it. It was tasty. But I've had better shrimp dishes, I've definitely spent less for good shrimp, and sitting at a picnic table in the rain for barely-above-room-temperature shrimp scampi, I dunno... kind of overrated. Don't get me wrong, they were tasty. But even if this truck were at "Off The Grid", the food truck festival in San Francisco where I live, and super-convenient to me, I'm not sure it would break into my top five. Go ahead. Do it once. But I don't know, am I missing something? It was fun, and they were tasty. But not EPIC like it seems everyone else believes it is.

    (3)

  • Richard F.

    I tried about every shrimp truck down here and I have to say that Giovanni has to be the best on the island. You should try here it's so worth your time.

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    Second stop on my Shrimp Truck Tour. Located on the side of the road. You will see multiple food trucks. Parking is on the dirt side. Cash only. I've eaten here twice. The first time was in 2010 but it was in a different location. Shrimp Scampi - $13 - I remember it being super good! But this time it was so BAD!! You get about 10 shirmp. The sauce is super greasy and you do not taste and garlic flavor at all. The drench your rice in the sauce and your left with grease sogged rice. You need a gallon of tea to digest all this oil. Outside seating is terrible. You are fighting with a million bugs and flies while you eat. So uncomfortable. Double thumbs down!

    (1)

  • Naomi P.

    3.5 stars. Got the shrimp scampi - $13. Yes, it was delicious but definitely nothing that blew us away. I think if this place had less hype I would eat there with normal expectations, and then the food would match my expectations, but this place comes so hyped that I found myself disappointed unfortunately.

    (3)

  • Dawn A.

    This place was packed! The shrimp truck is located in a small area with a few other food trucks with very limited parking...but alas, after looking for a parking spot and playing car tetris a few times we found a spot. My husband and I both ordered the shrimp scampi plate, one garlic and one spicy. We too had hear rave reviews about Giovanni's and knew we had to test it out. I am a big lover of seafood, so it was no brainer. Again we waited in line and they take *cash only*. After getting our plates, the task was finding a table...we did eventually. Overall the shrimp was delish and the rice was just white rice, nothing special there. The spicy scampi was EXTREMELY spicy, to extend that my husband was sweating...haha, but he did enjoy it. Also, it was extremely messy, and they only that those small square napkins...seriously not a square to spare, I think they could have splurged on larger napkins. To conclude, I think the flavors were excellent but I did think it was a bit overpriced for the scampi plates, at $13 a plate for a food truck, which didn't include a drink.

    (3)

  • Travelmeister T.

    1 star for the lemon butter shrimp. 5 stars for the garlic shrimp. Menu says the lemon shrimp are boiled in lemon water. Not. Plain damn boiled shrimp served with a cup of partially melted butter and lemon. Gross. The garlic shrimp were fantastic. The lemon sucked.

    (3)

  • David M.

    If you love garlic and if you love shrimp, you will LOVE the shrimp scampi from Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. We weren't that hungry and considered sharing a plate. I'm so glad we didn't share and each ordered a full order. LOL! It was that good. Insider's Tip: Ask the servers to pack the plates to-go and drive to nearby Sunset Beach to eat shrimp on the beach as you watch the sunset.

    (5)

  • Mariacecilia B.

    This may be me just being picky but I simply did not care for the unpeeled shrimp. The only time I eat shrimp shell and all is the Chinese salt and pepper style because it's basically fried. The flavors itself were pretty good but I personally would prefer them peeled and "deveined". The rice was also overcooked for my taste, most likely due to preparing it with more water than necessary. I might be back if they make an option with peeled shrimp! Lol highly doubtful tho. Good customer service Good flavors Just not a fan of unpeeled shrimp or mushy rice!

    (3)

  • Jill N.

    I don't get the shrimp hype. Don't get me wrong, it's delish, perfectly cooked scampi with loads of garlic and butter which makes it unlike any other shrimp you had -- but, oh, my poor arteries! The long drive to Haleiwa or Kahuku may warrant a stop at a shrimp truck - and if you're willing to either fight parking in the tiny lot or stand and wait in the super duper ridics line, you might as well do it at Giovanni's. We came here yesterday (Monday vacation day well spent, yah!) and stood in the line that moved quickly and shared a table with 3 others. Then it started to pour. Ugh, no fun. Waited maybe a total of 5 minutes in line, and got my plate immediately after paying. Perks of coming on a rainy Monday! $13 (Cash only!) was a hefty price to pay for a shrimp plate (dozen shrimp) that makes you feel greasy and like you need a good hand-washing. OH, and congrats, I've just increased my bad cholesterol levels! BUT, it's a must-try food experience while you make the trip to this side of the island. Worth it at least once and glad I came :)

    (3)

  • Jojo A.

    Undeniably a must have when going around the island as a local or tourist! This particular location, in quaint Haleiwa town, is located in a parking lot with other food trucks around, but just look for the truck with the longest line and that's the one! There are only four choices of shrimp to choose from and they all come with two scoops of rice and garlic and butter sauce goodness drizzled all over the plate. For $13, it is definitely worth it! Won't be disappointed at all. Some quick tips for you garlic shrimp lovers: ~As mentioned before, Giovanni's is always busy, so I'd suggest getting dropped off first and wait in line for your group because the wait is a while- 15-20 mins. ~I visited with some friends from London, and we brought our chairs and lawn blanket to use in the parking lot (ain't no shame in that; when you're craving garlic shrimp almost everything goes). Most times, the tables are taken and what better way to enjoy your shrimp sitting down comfortably and savoring every bite! ~Grab lots of napkins! Whether you shell first, then eat- either way, you'll need them ~Bring sanitizer or wipes for cleaning afterward ~Cash only! ~We brought a cooler with our own drinks in them, which saved us some money, but there are drinks there too Other than that, this was a definitely satisfying food stop! While you're at it, finish it off with a shake or McFlurry across the street from McDonald's! Mmmmm mmmm!

    (5)

  • Erika S.

    This will always be my favorite shrimp truck in the North Shore. It is undeniably amazing. The location is cheery and the food was just as amazing as I remembered when I was there last. I will keep coming back to this North Shore staple. If you are in the North Shore, you owe yourself a pit stop at Giovannis!

    (5)

  • Mandy T.

    This food truck was ok. We had the shrimp scampi and hot and spicy shrimps. I expected it to be better since pictures look so good. The spicy shrimp plate was spicy to me even though I can eat very spicy.

    (4)

  • Lenna L.

    So far, the best garlic shrimp I had. I am craving it as I type this. there were some bad reviews on the experience due to wait time, messy, and no restroom... It is a food truck, (and they are well known) so they offer only the food, they provide seating areas, so at least that was convenient. Don't come with the expectation that it's going to be a normal dining experience. Be prepare, bring hand sanitizers, go to restroom before hand. As for the peeling of the shrimp, now that is just being lazy if you complain about having to peel the shrimp, that's what hands are for. price: 13 bucks for plate of 12 shrimps and 2 scoops of rice (reasonable) service: you have to wait at least 30 mins for your food even after waiting in line food: just try it, it's good

    (5)

  • Joseph Joel B.

    HOW THE HELL CAN A SHRIMP TRUCK BE SO GOOD?!?!? Trust me on this, it is THAT GOOD AND THEN SOME!! The Shrimp Scampi over two scoops of rice and that garlicky, finger-licking, ono-goodness sauce is literally an orgasm in your mouth!! I've heard the other items on their menu are delicious too, but unfortunately I'm afraid to try anything else in fear of not living up to the expectations of the Shrimp Scampi. Why try something different, when you know the Shrimp Scampi is to die for?!?!? I often eat one or two plates there, and get two more plates to go!! LOL One of the downfalls is the distance... It is a lot closer than it's sister truck in Kahuku, but Haleiwa is still an adventure especially if you live on the south side of Oahu. But then again, maybe it's a good thing Giovanni's is so far away, or I would never make time for the gym!! LOL And parking and seating is always a problem there... Over the years, so many more people have discovered Giovanni's, so it's always packed when I go there now. Well, it is a shrimp truck, so what do you expect!! But the pros definitely outwiegh the cons at Giovanni's!!

    (5)

  • Justin R.

    When you're headed to the North Shore make a timely stop at Giovanni's. The shrimps were cleaned, properly cooked and overall very fresh. Coming off yet another food truck. I ordered the shrimp scampi it's their most popular set for a reason. I highly recommend instead of wasting time reading this review, just order it now because the wait will be awhile and rightfully so it's all made to order! You'll more than likely be glad you did.

    (5)

  • Lior O.

    what a buzz this place have. it is probably my fifth time at Giovanni's. i got the last Wednesday and the place was packed! i was so hungry and i just couldn't wait. sadly i've decided to go to the nearest shrimp truck that was good. good but not great. Then, me and my friend wen't to have a drink at a local bar and luckily gained back our appetite. we went back to Giovanni's to see that most of the crowed had faded. 2 minutes after i enjoyed my favorite shrimp dish.

    (5)

  • Brent W.

    When it comes to shrimp trucks on the north shore of Oahu, there are a few major players. Fumi, Giovanni, etc. We decided to have a little bit of a shrimp truck smackdown and have both Fumi's and Giovanni's in the same day. At Giovanni's, there are really three main dishes: - butter garlic shrimp - hot shrimp - lemon pepper shrimp At Fumi's, I had the garlic shrimp and I wanted to try something spicy now, so I went for Hot and spicy. I was not impressed. Yes, it was spicy, but it was drenched in this vinegary tobasco like substance which made it very acidic and pretty much overwhelmed the shrimp. I regretted my choice immediately. Even the generous scoops of rice couldn't dilute the acidity. Now, should a place be blamed because I didn't like what I ordered? Perhaps not, but at a place that offer only 3 real choices, any one should be good. If a full third of your menu is not good, that is a problem. Would I go back and try the other dishes? Probably not. The line is too long and you should go to the cajun truck in the same parking lot instead.

    (2)

  • Letty J.

    I don't know what the hype is about maybe just because it is popular. The line is sooo long so expect to wait a while, maybe there are times when it's shorter but it's a tourist spot so be prepared. My grandmother likes to go when she comes otherwise I wouldn't drive and wait that long. I tried both the scampi and the hot dog. The scampi is good but wow the hot dog was so oily I really did not care for it. The rice was really good tho. I like how there are other food vendors. I tried a boba tea from next door and it was great! There is also crepes and snow icecream and another place that I didn't get a good look at. If I have to go back I'll definitely go to one of those to try them out because this place definitely has enough business. Oh yeah the shrimp were deveined now so that's a plus.

    (3)

  • KL K.

    No stars for Giovanni's. Ordered the shrimp scampi. Clearly they need to look up a recipe for shrimp scampi. Overcooked shrimp smothered in a gluey, gooey mushed garlic sauce, (if it can even be called a sauce), served with a scoop and a half of very mushy rice topped with more sauce(?). Didn't even come close to a scampi. A lemon wedge was included that you could squeeze over it all. I guess that was the DIY part of the scampi sauce. Won't ever stop there again.

    (1)

  • Jose R.

    Fire!!! The hot and spicy plate was delicious. The shrimp scampi and garlic dog were also really good. Highly recommend this spot.

    (5)

  • Anna F.

    The best food I had in Hawaii. We drove there to try this from Waikiki and was well worth it. They have sitting area but it's messy (take hand wipes). You may have to wait to order and get your food but the garlic shrimp is delicious! If I visit Ohau again, I will go back to this place.

    (5)

  • Raquel B.

    Best place to stop at when you are at North Shore. The obvious choice? Shrimp scampi. Everyone's favorite shrimp! It is so good, although a little pricey ($13) it is a great plate to eat for lunch especially when you are at a close by beach and you want to eat something quick and delicious. Sometimes it does get really packed with tourists but the line goes fairly quickly and before you know it you have a mouthful of delicious garlic shrimp. They also have a few other options like hot dogs...We always go here when we hit North Shore!

    (5)

  • Liseann G.

    The shrimp scampi is great. Garlic and butter is aplenty and lots of rice to soak up the excess. Would I say this is the best shrimp truck on the north shore? It's hard to say but it definitely is one of the best. There is a lot of hype about it so that kind of takes away from it a bit. It's usually very busy but I would recommend it. The food is great, the story is good, and eating at a shrimp truck on the north shore is a must-do so might as well make it a good one.

    (5)

  • Kathy O.

    Finally tried the infamous shrimp truck. What a bunch of hype. Way over-rated. Was not good at all. I was so disappointed, I actually only at half of it and threw the rest away .... GASP! .... Maybe it was just an off day. Maybe it was because I didn't eat it there and took it back home. Doubt I will every try it again however. Bummer.

    (2)

  • Ninarae N.

    There was a lot of hype about this particular food truck. Had I not tried Mike's Huli Huli garlic shrimp before I tried the #1 Shrimp plate here at Giovanni's, I might have agreed with all of the raving reviews. Honestly, I have to give the gold to Mike's Huli Huli garlic shrimp in comparison with Giovanni's! Not that I'm being a hater, cuz it was pretty good, but it wasn't the best. The shrimp was average size and the Mac salad was bland. Also, there's tons of people in line and service seems a bit slow because there's one person taking orders as well as calling out orders, so there's a bit of a wait when ordering and receiving your food. It's pretty fast for a food truck, but there was virtually no line at Mike's Huli Huli. Like I said, I think this truck is pretty good. A solid 3 stars which is A-ok in my book, but I've definitely had better and I would recommends friends to drive out a little further to try Mike's Huli Huli.

    (3)

  • Cristina A.

    great food truck find. local spot in the north shore. shrimp scampi plate to die for! can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Julie L.

    Garlicky goodness all piled on a paper plate. Yummm! Always go for the Scampi. The other 2 flavors were meh - nothing impressive. Must try on the island whether you're on the way to North Shore or not.

    (4)

  • Marcelo C.

    This is one of those places that if you make it to Honolulu, you must come visit. The drive from Waikiki to the North Shore is roughly about a 45 minute drive with no traffic. Came here ready to eat the entire truck, my friends and I ordered the shrimp scampi and we enjoyed it. Make sure you enjoy eating garlic and you don't mind your shrimp drenched in butter. Your order comes with a scoop or two of rice and it is nice to soak up the butter and garlic with. If I had to do it again, I would order one shrimp scampi from this truck and walk over to the other truck that has the coconut shrimp and you can be in yummy shrimp heaven together. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because of the huge flies that were trying to eat my shrimp at the same time I was..... i would maybe get it to go or eat it in the car. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Angie C.

    The best shrimp truck ever! The shrimps were huge and very flavorful! So worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Sharon B.

    I don't know guys, the last time I was here, the shrimp portions filled more than half my plate. Now, it's less than half and two scoops of rice. Ummm, hello? Carb intake? No, really, they're trying to fill me up so I can forget about the lack of shrimp?? Well, I discovered that my more rice than shrimp plate left me wanting more and mixing the special sauce with the rice. The flavors are still ONO, but next time I'm definitely ordering all shrimp scampi. Lemon butter was a bit bland, the spicy was way too tobasco-ey.

    (3)

  • Jenny C.

    There a long line but food came out pretty quick. The garlic sauce is the best on the island The shrimp however was not fresh... Like it's been cooking too long. Best sauce and rice thou. Shrimp would be better if it was fresher

    (4)

  • Sagor H.

    Great place that you have to stop in as you're making your way around Oahu. Shrimp shrimp shrimp. That's why you're there and the shrimp is garlicy and tasty. It's one of those places you have to drive up to and grab some food under the tent. If you're on Oahu I would definitely stop by as you're driving around the north shore.

    (4)

  • Jay Jay C.

    Bomb fast food! I love the garlic shrimp here, it's exactly what I'm looking for in a garlic shrimp food truck. The only thing I don't like is the cash only, in this age where mobile card readers are everywhere they should get with the system but oh well. I'll keep coming here for the taste and the overall aloha!

    (4)

  • Penny M.

    I went to this place because of the hype. It wasn't bad but wasn't all that. I think it is more nostalgia that draws people rather than the food. It was ok but nothing I'd write my mom over. My husband felt the exact same. Oh well, we tried it.

    (2)

  • Dennis R.

    Good portions, great taste. One less star for distance to get there and price. Ah, also parking at both locations can be a pain. And lack of seating when they're busy. Still I vote them as best shrimp trucks. I just prefer the taste of their shrimp scampi plates.

    (4)

  • Cathy C.

    Driving Hawaiian-style in North Shore is just relaxing. Slow-paced, amazing scenery, Matsumoto and Giovanni's. My favorite place for some fantastic shrimp scampi. There are other shrimp trucks but find the old white truck on the side of the road that looks like it got excessively vandalized. They have a few tables and benches. While waiting for our food, we decided to write our names on the truck. I got 2 cups of rice, lots of buttery garlicky shrimps and a lemon wedge on my plate. White wine, cayenne pepper, paprika, butter and lots of garlic...mmmm...so onolicious! There was definitely a round 2 for me after I finished my 1st plate! Nothing's more attractive than a food baby at the beach!

    (5)

  • Johnson C.

    I don't think this is the "original" Giovanni's, but the second location/foodtruck which they opened (I could be wrong tho). When we got there the line was pretty long for this truck, compared to the other trucks in the area. We ordered the Shrimp Scampi plate, the Lemon/Butter plate, and the Garlic Hot Dog, the lady told us it would be about 25-30 minutes for our food, understandable based off how busy it was. So how was the food, let's break it down. Shrimp Scampi - The shrimp were cooked perfect! The sauce was amazing, the flavors and richness were all there. I wanted to shovel spoonfuls into my mouth! The one downside was the rice, it was waaay overcooked. They were more like soggy mashed congealed balls of rice, but cover it in sauce and it was delicious. Lemon/Butter - The shrimp were cooked perfectly here as well. But they were plain, there was no hint it had been boiled or steamed with lemon. The sauce, well wasn't even sauce, it was just a dipping cup with lemon juice and solid square of butter floating on top. The rice was the same soggy mashed congealed balls as in the Scampi plate, but this plate didnt have the amazing scampi sauce to cover it up. Which definitely took away from the experience. Garlic Hot Dog - The hot dog itself was pretty standard, the meat almost tasted like a Costco hot dog, which is pretty good. It was definitely sauteed in the Scampi Sauce which made it even more savory, but the bun was a bit dry, kind of like it had been left out for awhile. I'd say either get the two scoops of rice instead of the bun or just stick to the plates, unless you are craving a hot dog. Bottomline: They don't have a big menu, but out of the three things tried, only the signature scampi dish was in my opinion worth praising (and that was only because they nailed the sauce). Maybe they were having an off day or they cut some corners because they were too busy, ex) the rice, the lemon/butter flavoring and sauce, bun freshness. But overall the experience was just mediocre, it did not live up to the hype. I don't think I'll try this location out again. Next time I'll definitely go to the "original" Giovanni's truck location and give them a try. Maybe they will change my Giovanni's experience and live up to the hype!

    (2)

  • David R.

    Hands down best shrimp in Hawaii! Maybe even the best shrimp in America! We came here on our day trip to the North Shore, and we were surprised. The shrimp is magic! They only bad thing is that it is very messy. If you don't know which truck to go to, it is the one covered in writing, with a big line in front of it.

    (5)

  • Robin S.

    I was really disappointed with their Hot & Spicy shrimp! I really wanted to love it, but it's basically shrimp cooked in Frank's Red Hot sauce with rice. I should have stuck with garlic shrimp, which I got with my hotdog, the sauce was really good! I just say that the shrimp is easy to peel, so it was easy to eat.

    (3)

  • R B.

    Delicious shrimp scampi! Love the garlic sauce. They even cut it so it's easy to peel. The hot sauce is also very tasty.

    (5)

  • Heather S.

    I know there's so many other shrimp trucks and I've only tasted like two others. BUUUUTTT, Giovanni's is still my ULTIMATE fav! I hate peeling shrimp (good thing I usually have someone to do it for me ^_-), but the shrimp skin is where all the flavor is at. I just love the immense amount of garlic and butter there is lol. I love spicy. So, I always order the scampi with hot sauce on the side. Our plates are usually ready within 10 minutes. It used to be $1 per shrimp, but they bumped up the price to $13 for 12 shrimps. You can also get 6 shrimps for half the price. In conclusion, Giovanni's is ALWAYS worth the drive to the north shore. P.S. Garlic hot dog is NOT worth trying tho

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    Came here because a friend recommended this location. At the time... I was so excited to be going to Hawaii I completely forgot to read fellow Yelper reviews. Had I have known, I probably wouldn't have ordered the spicy shrimp plate. I can eat spicy and I love it, but this was seriously on a whole other level. I remember barely being able to feel my tongue and lips after eating it; I had to order a drink from them to soothe the burning feeling. I also ordered the garlic hot dog --- so freaking delicious. They cook it in the same sauce as the original shrimp plate. When I go back, I would get the original garlic shrimp plate and the garlic hot dog.

    (4)

  • Adam B.

    $13 for slightly better than average shrimp. Shrimp was bigger than expected from a food truck. Some had a fishy smell. Messy to eat since not peeled.

    (3)

  • Lyndsey C.

    Yum!! Always best to come here right when they open at 10:30am. They always seem to load up the garlic on your rice and shrimp, just the way I like it!! Came here before they closed right after the beach and the garlic is pretty skimpy =( My four year old niece can pound a full plate by herself...we normally get her the half plate but when shes done eating it, she eats more from her mothers plate...and continues to ask for MORE lol. Prepare to smell like garlic for days!

    (4)

  • Linh V.

    One of the best things we had in Hawaii! For $13, you get a generous plate of large prawns soaked in garlic oil. If you want spicy, but can't handle the spicy plate, you can request the spicy sauce on the side to dip your garlic shrimp in. The eating area comprises of a few tables and vast amounts of flies. Remember to bring moist wipes for after-eats cleanup.

    (4)

  • Mamie K.

    Was in Oahu on vacation with the family. We had heard about the famous shrimp trucks & was told must try if we were in the area. So we decided on one of the outings from the resort to find this famous shrimp truck. Be careful when you are looking for these trucks, there are quite a few out there along the way. We finally found it after stopping at the wrong location initially. Located the truck in a parking lot with several other food trucks. Had a little bit of a hard time finding parking. It was located in a very small town. There was parking in the lot where the food trucks were but it was full & cars waiting for others to leave. So we continued down the street and found parking in the little church parking lot down the street. Had to walk back towards the trucks. There was picnic like seating available (picnic tables scattered throughout). Some free entertainment was watching the chickens/roosters roaming around. If you drop any food, they were right there next to you. Also, some cats roaming the area as well. There was a LONG line waiting for the this particular food truck. The other trucks did not have long lines. So this must be a good sign. So some of us decided to wait while a few of the group decided to get food from the other trucks located in the same parking lot. The wait was about 35-40 minutes. As I got closer, the smell of garlic was floating out the window. There were so many choices. I ended up ordering the original shrimp with garlic (like a shrimp scampi). If you are a regular at food trucks, the price is not cheap. A little on the expensive side. The service was friendly. Food came out piping hot. Shrimp was very flavorful .. lots of garlic. My youngest LUVs fried garlic over her rice, a + with shrimp. A little messy having to peel the shells off the shrimp before eating it. Made it that more difficult to enjoy. But overall very good. Not quite sure if it was worth the 35-40 minutes waiting in line. But gotta try it at least once.

    (3)

  • Hoku F.

    Always has been my favorite shrimp truck! The best shrimp scampi ever tasted! Don't forget to ask for hot sauce to go with that! Friendly local staff! Lines are usually long but its worth the wait once you get your plate of goodness!!!!

    (5)

  • Claire F.

    Shrimp Scampi, for the win!!! After a terrible first experience with Giovanni's "No Refunds" hot and spicy shrimp plate (WAYYYYY TOO SPICY), I was eager to try another plate from this shrimp truck. Unfortunately, I don't go out to North Shore often, so I jumped at the opportunity the next time I was back! Yuuup, the shrimp scampi plate was definitely the way to go. For $13, each plate comes with a dozen juicy, succulent shrimp, covered in tons of minced garlic and butter sauce. Yum!! My friends and I were silent for our whole meal as we sucked, peeled, and devoured those delicious shrimps like ravaging savages. I even mopped up all the rice, as it soaked up all that rich garlic butter sauce, making every bite divine. yelp.com/biz_photos/giov… NOTE: Somehow, there were also a LOT less flies than the first time I went. Weird too, because there were also definitely more patrons than the last time I came and thus, more food for the flies to be attracted to...Hit or miss I suppose; and can't avoid flies in such humid weather like Hawaii! If you're going to get shrimp at the North Shore, Giovanni's is definitely the place to go!

    (4)

  • Jed D.

    Shrimp was ok. We had the spicy and scampi shrimps and garlic dog and ended up a little bit dissappointed.

    (3)

  • Derek B.

    So close to that 5th star. The shrimp scampi is garlicky deliciousness. Throw on two scoops of rice to soak up that garlic butter and give me a heart attack while eating it and I'm in heaven. Seriously good stuff. But why do you have to overcook the shrimp!!! Just cook them for like 1 less minute!! Definitely want to try the hot and spicy next time. They scared me away this time with their sign saying "No refunds" in the description of the plate. I'll be brave next time. $13 a plate does seem pricey, but you do get a dozen huge shrimp, so I'm not gonna complain too much.

    (4)

  • Kendra L.

    Realky great shrimp scampi! The spicy shrimp is really good too, but beware because it is very spicy. Your food will be ready fast so be sure you have your number and ticket slip handy.

    (4)

  • Cristina C.

    Shrimp scampi and scampi Hot dog da bomb! Highly recommend over Macky's. Friendly staff and food is ono!

    (5)

  • L N.

    Giovanni's is 'meh'... Just shrimp in a pound of butter and garlic.. No biggie.. Wouldn't return or recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Dave S.

    My wife and I ordered the Spicy Shrimp and the Shrimp Scampi and while it was tasty and a decent amount of shrimp on a plate I feel it's a tad overpriced. Also, the huge line and wait for food and the crowded parking lot make it less than ideal. Honestly I don't think I'll go again.

    (3)

  • Joe P.

    My cousins and I didn't feel like driving around the bend to Kahuku to go to Romy's Prawn & Shrimp Truck, so we drove to Hale"iwa Town to check out the highly touted Giovanni's on Kam Highway "across from McDonalds", next to some other food trucks. I ordered the hot & spicy shrimp plate. My cousins ordered the scampi (also pictured) , and lemon butter (not pictured) - all $13 each for a dozen shrimp w/ two manini (small) scoops rice. The hot & spicy was as advertised: F*cking Hot & Spicy!!! I was SMFAO!!! I am glad we brought the food back to the house, cos I needed milk to cool me off!!! There is a notice on the menu of "No Refunds". I warn you not to touch your eyes or skin while you eat this dish. The sauce is that freakin' hot!! All three dishes are basically the same: Steamed medium sized shrimp w/ a different sauce. The shrimp were fresh and good sized. However, I thought the price was kinda high for a food truck, the scoops of rice shoulda been larger, and mac salad shouldn't be extra: 3 Stars. I love food trucks, so that is an automatic 4 Star in my book if the food is good. Lastly, the service was quick: 3 Stars. An above average food truck, but not worthy of 4 full Stars IMHO: 3.5 Stars. I would come back if I were in Hale'iwa Town, but I would not go out of my way to hit this truck. Keep in mind, some of the other trucks serve overpriced, $15 bacon cheeseburgers, and $20 steaks (grassfed, no hormone beef from Molokai). Therefore, in relation price-wise, Giovannis is a good deal. P. S. - Go to the fried truck (forgot the name), and get the onion rings. They are onolicious!!!

    (3)

  • Andrew E.

    When arranging to come here, make sure to bring plenty of wet naps! There's always a line, so be sure to come early if you want to order right away. We got the butter garlic shrimp and hot shrimp plates. If I had to choose only one, I'd definitely go with the butter garlic shrimp. The hot shrimp wasn't super hot, and was marinaded with the Chinese chili sauce you normally see at Dim Sum places. For the Cali heads, their butter garlic shrimp reminds me of Boiling Crab's marinade, just a lot less spicy. The shrimp is fresh, and the prices are fair. It's a simple meal (by Hawaiian standards), and worth it if you plan to be in North Shore, although I would not drive all the way out there from Honolulu just for the shrimp.

    (4)

  • Harold B.

    Drove after reading the reviews on Yelp. The truck must be the attraction because the service and attitude sure isn't. Had the scampi.it was okay but was better next door at HONOS. Only way to get garlic shrimp here. Choice of garlic or Hot not both. See review for Honos.

    (3)

  • Ken W.

    I've been to the other location before, this one is way more convenient if you're coming from Waikiki, and I want to say less crowded. I love how this place has a number of different food trucks nearby that you can sample, but we still ended up getting 2 plates. My main beef with Giovanni's is they don't peel their shrimp, and also both plates (purchased at different times) weren't warm. The other location, probably due to its volume, had much warmer shrimp at least. Definitely a place to try. Just stick with the Shrimp Scampi, it's the one you won't regret. One per person may not be enough, just sayin'.

    (4)

  • Patricia L.

    Hype. I don't mind the hype as long as he/she/it lives up to it. The shrimp scampi here is no joke. Totally deserves the hype it receives! We decided to give everything a try--and by everything we ordered one plate of shrimp scampi, lemon butter shrimp, and spicy shrimp as well as two scampi hot dogs. The spicy shrimp was just okay. It was spicy, but definitely something I could handle. The part that I didn't like was the flavor it got its "spiciness" from--tabasco. I wish it was a sriracha or chili kind of spicy, but it was tabasco, which was just okay. The lemon butter shrimp was good, but not great, too. The sauce itself wasn't flavorful enough, especially when consumed side by side with the shrimp scampi. The scampi was out of this world! The garlicky flavor was amazing! It was so good that they put it on a hot dog, and the hot dog was phenomenal too! Here's my personal breakdown... I went to Geste Shrimp Truck in Maui 6 months prior to coming here. Geste wins on overall flavors. We tried the spicy pineapple and the Hawaiian scampi when we went there. BOTH were delicious. BUT Giovanni wins on just the scampi category. It's unforgettable. It's so good that I'm willing to omit the negatives from this place (spicy and lemon pepper) and give this place a 5 anyways!

    (5)

  • Christie B.

    Wonderful. The freshest, best seafood I've ever had. Of course, the beautiful island atmosphere may have contributed to this experience (basically everything about Hawaii was enchanting). But that aside, let me just say that Giovanni's serves up fantastic fare that is fresh, savory, and incredibly well priced. I had the shrimp scampi and it was amazing. Beautiful huge shrimp swimming in garlicky lemon butter, accompanied by two scoops of white rice. All my friends had similarly savory dishes, and we all raved about the quality of the seafood and the reasonable prices. Run, do not walk, to Giovanni's. It's well worth it.

    (5)

  • Thomas Z.

    Ordered shrimp platter. They only make like 3 things but they make them well. Would like it if they added more variety to their menu

    (4)

  • mike j.

    A little disappointed given that I drove an hour just to get here from Waikiki. The Shrimp Scampi was as good as I remembered it. The 4 star rating is for that. The hot and spicy however was no bueno. It was too spicy and lacked flavor.

    (4)

  • Francene B.

    Always satisfied when coming here! Every time my family or friends visit, this is always the #1 spot I will take them.

    (5)

  • Leo C.

    Get the scampi, the lemon wasnt that good. A decent deal for the price. Try sitting on the benches on the other side of the park since there were so many flies. Overall a good experience to try in the area

    (4)

  • J D.

    Finally tried this place. The hot sauce that they gave for starters tasted really good with the shrimp scampi we ordered. We had eight people in our party. If you get the full plate its a lot more shrimp. If you love garlic its a must try. I give this place 3 stars because one the rice was a bit mushy. Two it was rather oily and by the time I got to my last four pieces of shrimp I was feeling like I had too much oil. Third the parking sux and the flies are rather bothersome. I would go Macky's any day instead.

    (3)

  • Dorothy L.

    Okay. The shrimp is good however it's nothing to obsess about. I got the shrimp scampi and my friend got the hot and spicy. The hot and spicy was really spicy for her. So be careful! The price is what bugs me... $13 a plate . The seating area is a bunch of picnic tables with flies bugging the crap out of everyone. It's not the most pleasant place to eat at. And for that reason... 4

    (4)

  • Nicki C.

    Best shrimp truck on the north shore for sure, scampi plate is loaded with yummy garlic and good size shrimp. It's always packed but the line moves fast.

    (4)

  • Chinh T.

    This place is incredible! I was dreaming of having Giovanni's after visiting Gestes in Maui last year and it did not disappoint. The spicy is very satisfying for those looking for the "gasping for your breath, mouth burning" spicy....think 10/10, boiling crab level. If I could just have Giovanni's in an air-conditioned lounge without flies hovering around me, I'd be in heaven! Despite all the necessary fly shooing, it's still a must visit every time I'm in Honolulu.

    (4)

  • Kristine C.

    I am a huge fan of Shrimp trucks on the North Shore. I've tried Romy's and Mackys Shrimp trucks. A friend took me to Giovannis on Kahuku but was horribly busy. So we decided to go all the way at the Haleiwa location. The Haleiwa location was just as busy; however, the service was quite faster. I ordered the Garlic Prawns and it was super delicious and tasty and it was worth the wait. I savored every bite and the servings were just perfect, seasoned to perfection and just the right amount of garlic butter. They were not cheap on the shrimp and the rice serving was just right. My friend ordered the hot and spicy shrimp. I had one shrimp and my mouth was burning. Just be aware that if you're gong to order the hot and spicy... that you're ready to have your mouth burn after 5-6 shrimps. Otherwise they were both delicious. I would come back here again for a good shrimp fix. Parking is quite alright with the exception of lunch time. We came here around 2:30 and it cleared out pretty quickly for us to get our bench to eat. Regardless I would highly visit this place. Super ONO!

    (5)

  • Tatiane B.

    First time at Giovannis and went for the hot shrimp. Omg it was hot! Just to way i like it,real yum!!! They have a covered placed for you to sit down with a sunk to wash your hands after the mess and even bathrooms. Another truck was there and looks like they had some ice cream. Pretty cool spot to have lunch.

    (4)

  • Trace R.

    The food truck moved from when I was here 5 years ago. The food trucks (maybe 5-6 of them) are situated in a small little area with lots of trees, seats & tables and a small parking lot. The line for Giovanni's went by pretty quick, waited for about 10min, but the wait to get our food took almost 40-45 min! There were a lot of people ordering, a lot of tourist people! I got the half plate of Shrimp Scampi, it came with 6 pretty good size pieces of shrimp & 1 scoop of rice for $6.50. The food was great but a little on the oily side when it came to the rice as they poured the garlic butter sauce too heavily on the rice. I would def recommend this place & what's even more awesome is that you can go see turtles on the beach just a few minutes away!

    (4)

  • Kim D.

    Finally tried the garlic shrimp here after a not so good experience the first time. The garlic sauce is soooo delicious. The only thing I would recommend is cooking the garlic a little bit more. Also our food was warm not hot, which I prefer piping hot. The service was super nice. We came here at 11am before the rush so got our food within minutes! We will definitely be back before our trip is over.

    (4)

  • Steven R.

    Any trip to the North Shore isn't complete without a stop at Giovannis. The price is right and their garlic shrimp are Da Kine. Go to the one in Kahuku, it's cleaner and even has a rinsing station for washing all that great garlic off your fingers when you're done.

    (4)

  • Hilda M.

    Their Shrimp Scampi (signature dish) is pretty delicious! You can also split your plate to try the other shrimp flavors (hot & spicy or butter). Plate comes with 2 scoops of rice. Also try their mac salad - it's pretty good too! If you have a hard time parking at the food truck area you can try to park at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce parking lot (5 min walk) or further down to the North Shore Marketplace (10 min walk).

    (4)

  • Robin L.

    First and only shrimp truck experience. $14 for the shrimp scampi with rice. Hot sauce on the side. The guy was nice enough to suggest I sample the hot before I ordered the hot...because well, it was pretty dang hot. Tasty stuff, but pretty oily. We also tried the garlic hot dog which is a hot dog dunked in some of their garlic sauce. It was tasty as well, but nothing extraordinary. Try if you are in the hood.

    (4)

  • Erik W.

    The Shrimp Scampi is their most popular dish and remains my favorite selection when we visit Hawaii- don't let the long line intimidate you as the service is very fast and the food is delicious. It's worth the drive!

    (5)

  • Cat P.

    This place is straight O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D!!! I have been insisting that Macky's is the best shrimp truck on the island, and I believe it even more so after finally trying Giovanni's. I heard from my friends who have had both, that Macky's is def better, but people get so caught up on the Giovanni's hype and it's so widely publicized to the tourists. Even when my family came to visit last month, I insisted on them to eat Macky's instead, but noooo, they wanted to try GIOVANNI'S b/c they said everyone always talks about it, and it's more POPULAR. Afterwards, they complained that the spicy shrimp was wayyy too spicy. My dad can eat absolutely anything and even HE complained that it was too spicy. Then last weekend my friends from Cali were visiting and wanted to try Giovanni's, cuz one of them had Macky's before and wanted to try something different. Inside, I really didn't want to do it but they were the guests so whatever they say goes. =P I figured I'd have better credibility too if I actually tried Giovanni's and could truly say what place was the best on the island. Anyway, I finally tried out Giovanni's, and I tell ya, it was not worth my $13. I ordered the lemon butter shrimp plate, and the shrimp were small and overcooked! They tasted old and didn't taste fresh at all! AND the plate only comes with rice and shrimp, and no salad and pineapple like Macky's does! SO SUPER LAME. So there, now that I've officially tried Giovanni's, I can fairly say that Macky's is still the best!

    (2)

  • Carolyn N.

    My boyfriend is a bit sketchy about eating things from trucks, but I'm totally a food truck lovaaaaa!! I told him that our itinerary will consist of food truck hopping and he's like, "I came all the way to Hawaii to food truck hop?" He was a fan after having Giovanni's shrimp scampi though. We had other ones that day but this place was his favorite. I think it was around $15 a plate?

    (4)

  • Heather C.

    On the last day of our stay in Oahu the boyfriend and I made our way out to North Shore, to see what good foods were over there. NUMBER ONE SUGGESTION A handful of friend's suggested going to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, this was actually one of places suggested by every single person I asked! So, of course I had to give it a go and see what all the talk was about. THE BEST THING I ATE DURING MY TRIP The boyfriend and I had no idea when this truck was closing, but luckily we made it an hour before they closed (YES!!!!). We ordered their most popular item on their menu, which was the Shrimp Scampi. Oh my goodness, these babies were marinated in olive oil, garlic and lemon butter, which is served with rice. I took one bite and I was in love, so in love that I couldn't stop eating and before I realized how fast I was eating, I was down to the 12th shrimp. Mind you these shrimps are not your baby shrimps, these are fairly big. Dammit, thinking about it is making my mouth water and my stomach sad! CONCLUSION Coming to North Shore? Then you BETTER hit Giovanni's Shrimp Truck up! If you don't, then you're missing out on probably what would have been the best meal throughout your trip. =X I love love LOVE this place!

    (5)

  • Azaria S.

    Like every other person who has tried Giovanni's I really like it too. My mom's friend who's a local told us about this place and took us there. I tried the scampi twice and both times were awesome. The portion was just right with two scoops of rice and a generous helping of garlicky shrimps. Unlike some people I didn't find the scampi to be spicy at all but I tried my mom's hot and spicy shrimp and it was too strong for me. So if you're good with spicy food but still can't take high levels of hotness, order the scampi instead. The only downside of eating here was the flies. The place was never too crowded when I was there and I liked the chickens who just walked and hanged about. If you're visiting Hawaii, I'd say this place is a must.

    (4)

  • Keolani K.

    I don't understand the hype. I stayed out in Waianae and drove, what seemed forever, to find this truck. I was so excited after reading these reviews but, only to be disappointed. I guess I expected way more but I have had way better shrimp out here on the mainland. I actually preferred the hot and spicy more than the shrimp scampi although the hot and spicy tasted more like candy than... Hot and spicy. I usually LOVE garlic but I didn't really care for it on the shrimp scampi. The shrimp was cooked very well though, esp for it being a shrimp truck. It was not overcooked and the rice was pretty good. As far as taste, it was a 2/5. The line wasn't that crazy when I went and the wait for the dishes were about 5ish minutes so it wasn't that bad esp with how many customers were there. The shopping center is cute but I still had to go order more food elsewhere because it didn't satisfy me. I tried the KBBQ beside it, which was really good for a truck.

    (2)

  • Yumiko K.

    I ordered shrimp scampi, which came with 2 scoops of rice smothered in delicious garlic sauce and one order of mac salad. It was messy, garlicy, and simply scrumptious. I was too busy devouring all the shrimps, so I didn't count how many there were on the plate. My bf and I both got plenty enough to satisfy our shrimp cravings. (I must admit I could have easily eaten the entire plate all by myself without his help...) The truck looks quite yucky, and the worker was more on a blunt side. Nonetheless, this truck was quite popular, and there was a constant stream of people ordering food from it. If you are not scared of the way the truck looks, try their food!

    (4)

  • David N.

    Real Talk... This place is hyped up to the point that people make it almost impossible for this truck to live up to the unrealistic expectations people have for the food here. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad... i didn't get food poisoning or anything, but it just didn't live up to the talk. My brother in laws family lives in Pearl City and he always talked about how good these shrimp trucks were, especially Giovanni's. I went to check it out and walked away hungry and disappointed. Ordered the shrimp scampi and the butter/lemon shrimp. The portion size was small for the $ and the butter lemon one was just not good. The scampi was pretty decent and we ate that no problem but ended up throwing a lot of the other shrimp to the chickens nearby. After seeing all these places on TV, reading the reviews, getting recommendations from friends and family... after I tried it, I was honestly disappointed. The issues most people complained about weren't present such as bad service from rude employees... i didn't get that at all... people were really chill. But I can't again warrant a drive into Haleiwa town just to go to this truck again. But everyone has their own personal opinions... this is just mine... I've had better.

    (2)

  • Darlene L.

    We tried the scampi and it was delicious. I could eat this every day if i lived here!! Don't miss this stop. This place rocks. If you love shrimp and dont mind getting messy and licking the garlicky goodness off your fingers, this is the place.(Also if you dont mind waiting in line) We were lucky, no line, had our food in 10 minutes and couldn't wait. We sat down on the bench, had our pile of napkins and started peeling. They split the top so it's easy to peel and boy did they go fast. We cant wait to go back.

    (4)

  • Windy S.

    I wish their Garlic Shrimp had more Garlic... Probably not possible. One of our friends tried to recreate it when we got back to the mainland and he used an entire jar of minced garlic and felt he still needed more. I love that they put a big scoop of garlic on the rice too. My husband got the shrimp with lemon. These didn't hold a candle to the garlic. Don't bother with the lemon and if you really want to be challenged by heat try the Hot Shrimp. Otherwise, keep it simple and stick to the garlic! That's what it's all about! Mac Salad was decent too.

    (5)

  • Jeremy V.

    It's a bit of a drive outside of Honolulu, but very worth it. The garlic shrimp is the best on the north shore.

    (5)

  • Derrick T.

    Hey if you're taking a trip to the North shore then make a stop. But don't make a trip to the north shore for this stop. Giovanni's is good, they're probably the best shrimp truck here but it's not a good experience that's going to make you miss the north shore or Hawaii. The prices are fair, the shrimp is fresh and the flavors are simple. It is good, but I do find it a bit pricy and I was left wanting more out of it. I wanted to believe it was a problem of being hyped but I let this review ferment a bit before firing it off and definitely decided that it's a mediocre truck and experience that is worth a stop but don't plan your day around it.

    (3)

  • Jenny C.

    Finger-licking good! Giovanni's Shrimp Truck was on my list of places to hit up in Oahu and it did not disappoint. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi (garlic) and Lemon Butter plates. I love garlic so the scampi was delicious! The lemon butter was just okay in my opinion but was still good. The plates came with two scoops of rice and 12 shrimps. I recommend coming with a friend to split two different flavors so you can try more. TIP: There's a sink towards the back of the patio area where you can wash your hands after eating.

    (4)

  • Paul L.

    They give you a very generous amount of very fresh and very savory shrimp (marinated well, with deep flavors that gets into the meat past the shell). You can't go wrong with either the scampi or the spicy (but beware, the spicy is pretty spicy, caveat emptor). The setting is rustic, to say the least, with benches beneath a trees and chickens running around, it's the very opposite of fine dining, yet a great experience.

    (4)

  • Di A.

    Decent meal for the price. Not what I expected from a shrimp cart that is supposed to be so well known and is a must try. The flavor wasn't as great as I expected and the spicy is so spicy that you feel like you are going to die. If you want to try the best shrimp packed with flavor, Geste shrimp truck is by far the ultimate must eat.

    (2)

  • Jesse C.

    Shrimp was okay, you know you can't go wrong with shrimp covered in garlic sauce, butter, and lemon. Was still hungry afterwards but what can you do. Will probably try the other truck next time. Chickens running around all over the place.

    (3)

  • Lyn C.

    I don't know what the big hype is about Giovanni's. I've always seen it in that little hippie grove and wanted to try it out. I knew they were getting popular, since there's two now so (naturally) I wanted to see them. I haven't been to too many other shrimp trucks, but have loved the ones I've gone to: Macky's and Famous Shrimp Truck...both were amazing and imo way better. Giovanni's was a major let down! Parking was atrocious, and the shrimp quality was so so. I split the scampi which seemed like the most popular combo and tried the lemon pepper. My plate was okay, the lemon pepper plate was horrible!! No flavor and over cooked shrimp! I even got the hot sauce on the side and it was wayyy too hot. Not even a flavory type of spicy, just burning hot! Don't give in to the hype! Go to the other trucks!

    (3)

  • Jackie G.

    First off, don't go during peak lunch hours. We had to wait 45 minutes for our shrimp plate. There were so many people standing around waiting for their food that it was difficult to figure who was in what line. FYI the line to order is on the right side of the truck and pick up is on the left side. I wish they would add some signs so people know where to do what. My husband and I ordered the shrimp scampi after multiple friends warned us not to order the lemon butter bwcause of the lack of flavor. It was finger lickin good shrimp. You could practically smell the garlic from a mile away! I would highly recommend the scampi. We got a side of their hot sauce to try and it is pretty hot. When the menu for the spicy shrimp says "no refunds" they are not joking! They did have a yelp check in deal for a free drink so don't forget to show them you checked in!

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Holy crap is this tasty shrimp. Great shrimp, either with lemon and butter or with garlic (scampi). (We had both at the table, I think everyone preferred scampi.) This location is lower key than their more famous one, so there weren't crippling lines when we went. Delicious all around, and they'll let you use the sink around the side of the truck to rinse all the garlic off.

    (4)

  • Troy D.

    Stopped by Giovanni's Shrimp Truck today. Out of this world. 10 stars!! Highly recommend the garlic shrimp scampi.

    (5)

  • Brandon Y.

    Along with Matsumoto's, Giovanni's is another tourist must when visiting North Shore. Their shrimp scampi plate is exceptional due to the butter and garlic flavors packed into the pretty-jumbo sized shrimp. Note that the plate is about $12, comes with two scoops of legit garlic rice, and there are shells on the shrimp but easily taken off b/c they split the shell to make it peel-able. I've also had the lemon butter - tastes great as well. Be warned however: -it gets messy (but you are allowed to use the sink behind the trailer to rinse your hands, given they aren't using it for dish-washing) -no indoor batheroom (porta-potties around the area) -quite a bit of flies around the area -tables can be a bit sticky (but I mean..it's outdoors...) Of course, all these add to the unique shrimp truck experience, and you gotta try going if you're in the area. Also note to bring a sharpie or a pen - you gotta tag the truck after you've finished your shrimp plate. Take one look at the thing and you'll see what I mean.

    (5)

  • Jasmine N.

    G-A-R-L-I-C EVERYTHING! mm mm finger licking good. When I make my once a year trek out to North Shore I have to eat here. For $13 you get a plate with two scoops of rice and 12 shrimp. 13 if you're lucky. They offer three types of shrimp plates. Scampi, Lemon butter and Hot and spicy. Of the three the Scampi is the best!!! Tip: If you like it hot ask for the hot sauce on the side. If you like garlic ask for extra garlic on the rice. They also offer a garlic hot dog. It's cooked in the same garlic sauce as the shrimp. Sorry if you're allergic to shrimp. There are a couple of other trucks for you. My friend ordered a kalbi plate next door at the Korean truck. It was very tasty but that's another review. Tip: Bring your own drink or stop at the 7-11 nearby. :) Bring a mint for after. You WILL continue to smell like garlic shrimp the rest of the day. It is totally worth the drive. Mmmmm garlic shrimp.

    (4)

  • Amy B.

    It's good, but it's not outstanding. My boyfriend and I ordered the shrimp scampi plate and a side of mac salad. The shrimp has good flavor, but there was a ton of oil on my plate. The mac salad was good, just not my type. There are so many shrimp trucks in the area, it's easy to branch out and try something different which is what I'll be doing next time I'm up in that area.

    (3)

  • Dan P.

    Yes, this is the famous Giovanni's shrimp truck. I went on a Monday afternoon and it wasn't crowded. I got the shrimp scampi and it was delicious. There was a good amount of garlic and butter to bring a lot of flavor to the dish. I thought maybe it was a little too oily but I enjoyed it. I also got a side of the macaroni salad. It's good but doesn't stand out. The lemon and butter is also good for those who don't like garlic. Yes, there were a lot of flies and there were chickens walking around. There were also some ants here and there. Oh well, I like formal dining but I'm cool eating at a picnic table in Hawaii too. I knocked off 1 star because of the excess butter/oil.

    (4)

  • Bryan R.

    Swung by after watching all the tourist's ass-cracks cock-blocking the turtles from getting to shore @ Laniakea Beach. Very busy & pretty damn pricey for a family of 4 but quite good none the less. A bit messy peeling these things but don't be shy as Giovanni's has a built-in wash-basin (sink/soap + paper towels) on the side of their truck. Food Network took me here though apparently the regulars know of one of their nearby neighbors who are even better (I'll give the others a try next time). Supposed to be some damn good grilled corn within the vicinity as well though we missed out on that as well... Biggest gripe (outside of the inflated pricing) was that after seeing this place on TV & after all the anticipation of waiting months & months leading up to our trip, that we were "greeted" by the monotone robot at the window. Talk about buzz-kill...

    (3)

  • Mimi H.

    Another one of our must eats in O'ahu but maybe we should've gone to the original. There wasn't a line when we arrived so ordering was easy and fast. Shrimp Scampi ($13) - Comes with a dozen perfectly cooked shrimp in an amazing garlic sautéed sauce. If only I could've just eaten the shells. Just a bit oily and greasy but nothing rice couldn't help alleviate. Lemon Butter - Meh not as good as the garlic shrimp. Still cooked nicely but it's basically steamed shrimp that you peel and squeeze lemon over to dip in butter. Probably the lightest choice if you don't dip it in the butter of course. I guess I was expecting a lot more since it was pretty pricey for just shrimp. Garlic shrimp is the way to go if you do want to stop by.

    (4)

  • Amanda L.

    Drove up to North Shore for a day of snorkeling/beaches and decided to stop by the famed food trucks up here. I tried #1 (scampi) and my boyfriend tried #3 (lemon butter). The truck, which looks rather beaten down, is cash only and the line can be long but moves quickly. Price is $13 per plate which comes with 12 shrimp and two scoops of rice. The rice was mushy, but the shrimp made up for it! Scampi was preferred over the lemon butter, as it was buttery and garlicy. All-in-all, this food truck is a better deal (with better food) that some of the other ones we tried down in Waikiki. I'd come back if we made a trip back up to the North Shore.

    (4)

  • Mark E.

    First impression: a old food truck covered in tourist autographs parked in a dirt parking lot. First Thought: How bad could it be? The parking lot was nearly full when we arrived around 1115. We must have beat the full lunch rush because the parking lot was packed about 20 minutes later. There are about 15 picnic tables outside for all the food trucks parked there. Giovanni's had a small line, but the line moved fast. When I ordered the woman was polite and explained the menu. The food came out quick. The shrimp was good. I don't think I would say its the best shrimp I've ever had, but it was pretty tasty. I ordered one of each of the flavors for our group. If you love garlic, I recommend the shrimp scampi with the garlic rice. The spicy shrimp had good flavor and the butter shrimp is exactly what you expect...shrimp with butter. The portions were decent, but the price was a little expensive. On another note...yes the shrimp are not peeled. It would be easier and less messy for the customer, but whatever..the shrimp were still good.

    (3)

  • Frank D.

    To echo another review, way too much butter and not enough garlic flavor. The garlic was present, but not enough and not toasted to bring out the flavor. I liked it that they offered half-orders so we could try other flavors. I tried the spicy and they were way too hot. All heat with little flavor meant I really didn't enjoy the order. They had a wash basin whish was nice and a clean seating area.

    (2)

  • Jennie B.

    Food was good, line was a little bit more than I'd like to wait, but its a popular spot so I wait, service was great, most food truck people are dicks. The rice with the garlic on it complimented it well. They have a sign on a surf board that says something about the Spicy version being very very very hot and basically order at your own discretion. Well I did, I like hot. I can handle hot. Shit was like taco bell mild sauce hot though. Come on fam! I had some of my friends garlic and it was amazing, hence the 3 stars. Stop gauging the heat by fucking haole taste buds, you people are beast, you lick fire and walk barefoot on gravel and don't flinch, you are like the island Russians, like ford motor built tough, give a homie some real heat next time. I'll give you a redo, my next trip. You brocked my mouth now, burn that shit.

    (3)

  • Christine C.

    Great food. Big, fresh shrimp and good rice. But honestly...not worth the wait. Waited around 45 minutes for 2 plates, but I had to try it as it was my first time in Hawaii.

    (3)

  • Joyce G.

    I love Giovanni's. I get their scampi plate. It is a buttery garlic heaven! I'd give it five stars but there's been a few occasions where my rice was mushy. It was like they put too much water when they cooked it. Other than that I enjoyed my plate. Lines are expected. But turnaround time isn't too bad. Def give them a try. :)

    (4)

  • Joanna L.

    Whenever I think shrimp truck, I think Kahuku, but Kahuku is a long drive out! This past Sunday, my friends and I decided to take a drive out to North Shore and of course, we wanted some yummy shrimp! Luckily, my friend knew about Giovanni's Shrimp Truck! It's located in Haleiwa, right across from the McDonald's with a whole bunch of other food trucks. Pro: You don't have to drive all the way out to Kahuku for shrimp! The food was very good! They have a few sauces to choose from. The most popular is the Shrimp Scampi, which was what I ordered. It comes with a dozen shrimp, a lemon wedge, and two scoops of perfectly cooked rice for $13. The scoops of rice are smaller than what I'm used to and with all the garlic they put on top the rice, I definitely could have eaten another scoop! I really like that they automatically put garlic on the rice, but I wouldn't have minded if they had put more garlic in the overall dish. Vampire, I am not, because I looove garlic!! If you happen to be a vampire or just don't love garlic like I do, that's ok because they also have a Lemon/Butter. Tip: Half Plates are your friend! If I had been smarter the other day, I would've gotten the half plate of the Shrimp Scampi and another half plate of the Lemon/Butter so I could try them both! Half plates are exactly half of the normal plates; 6 shrimps and 1 scoop of rice for $6.50. They also have a plate called the Hot and Spicy, which comes with a warning. No refunds!! You better make sure you can handle if you plan to try this! Or perhaps split a half plate with someone so you can both try it out? Call it a bonding experience. Reminder: There's a McDonald's across the street if you need milk to help put out that fire! Pro: Even though there was a line, they worked very fast and got our plates quickly. None of that wait 45 minutes nonsense! My biggest dislike about my whole experience was the overall cleanliness. Because all the food trucks are situated under these trees that make a lot of debris, the little seed things were flying around in the air, landing on tables and in my food! We also battled flies and other bugs crawling on the tables. I wish I knew to bring some wipes to wipe down the tables. The Japanese tourists were prepared, so if you're lucky, you'll get the wiped down table after they've left or be friendly and ask to share the table with them! Tip: Bring some wipes for the table, but you're also gonna need it for your hands after eating all those shrimps!

    (4)

  • Ac a.

    Amazing as always! Best meal we had all week on Oahu

    (5)

  • Monica S.

    Giovanni's was at the top of my list of places to eat while in Hawaii. I was so excited once we finally arrived there because all my friends raved about it. Honestly, I was quite disappointed. While the flavor was good, I felt like I could make this at home. The rice was sooo mushy that I couldn't eat it :( I do however, give them credit for cooking the shrimp well. The texture was on point. As for flavor, tasted just like fried garlic and tons of butter and olive oil. I love garlic as much as the next person, but I just wasn't impressed. For $13 a plate, you get two scoops of rice and a dozen nicely sized shrimps. It is not a bad deal at all. There was just something left to be desired. As for the Mac salad, I wouldn't even bother. Tried it and the bf and I both tossed it.

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    My cousin really wanted to try this shrimp truck, and added a stop to our itinerary. I wasn't as excited about it as she was - I figured all the shrimp trucks were about the same. While the shrimp was good, I didn't fall in love with it the way some other people seemed to. We got a plate of the scampi to share between four people (it's a dozen shrimp, and we had a lot of food places on our list, so we were trying to be economical in our eating.) Again, the shrimp was okay, but nothing spectacular. They put the scampi sauce on top of the two scoops of rice that comes with the dish, which was good. The girl working the window was awesome. She was friendly, and she got our food right out to us. She even gave us an extra plate to make it easier for us to split the food. Overall, I don't think I'd need to come back here. There are so many shrimp trucks in Haleiwa, and having eaten at two so far, I'm not convinced there's a difference. It's a nice touristy spot, and there are places to sit and chow down, but other than that...

    (3)

  • Tommie S.

    This was the absolute highlight of my trip to Honolulu. I know: a food truck? It seems that I'm not as classy as I'd like to believe... I rented a car for a 1/2 day trip to the North Shore and it was worth it. You absolutely cannot miss the truck because it is surrounded by other trucks. However, this is the truck with the steady long line and entirely too much writing on it. And the day I visited, it was the truck with the rooster on its owning. The only thing you need is the shrimp scampi & you will be more than satisfied. Oh, and you will reek of garlic for the remainder of the day (and maybe the next). However, the crispy garlic bits that were atop the rice are more than worth your new-found perfume that won't quit...

    (5)

  • Claudia N.

    Heard a lot about the Shrimp Scampy, went to ear there finally and for me it was highly overrated. Incredible amount of flies make it hard to eat. Expensive and blah!

    (2)

  • Salina M.

    Hmm.. Where to start, this was the first shrimp truck we tried since we moved to Oahu.. The food was absolutely yummy, would definitely eat here again if they change the order person. She was very rude & impatient, I watched her after we ordered & she was rude to everyone else too! Totally uncalled for, she must've been having a bad day!

    (4)

  • Chaulzy S.

    Area is pretty cool nice food truck feel on old town and seating like a camp. Parking is so so, staff decent. Price $$. Based on my good only I feel like it wasn't worth it, but it is shrimp so no shrimp is really cheap. I ordered half lemon butter with rice. Which my rice was semi hard and tasted like it was reheated. My shrimp was cold and wasn't cleaned. He ordered shrimp scampi and didn't even bother to eat. Disappointed in this place and the fact my friend told me it was a good place to eat. Too bad my phone died I would have taken a picture

    (2)

  • R C.

    Must eat item if you visit Oahu island! The Shrimp Scampi is soooo good! Hot dog with garlic is also super delicious. 5 star food indeed.

    (5)

  • Brent K.

    I don't know what all the fuss is with all these shrimp trucks . I tried all three plates nothing really special. Yes the garlic shrimp was good but nothing to rave about. What is terrible is the eating area. The flys is something out of the movies. It's GROSS ! It's really nastie I'm not going back. Maybe I'll buy a plate lunch and eat someplace else. Like on the beach. LOL Good luck !

    (3)

  • Dean H.

    On the rare occasion that I am on the north shore I try to get this shrimp....my daughter wanted to eat it today on our last day of fall break so I couldn't resist and we headed to the north shore. What can I say about this place that hasn't been said in the past....SUPER GOOD GARLIC SHRIMP! Nuff said. In addition, they have a handwash station (don't quote me on that cause I just used it thinking it was one) in the back of the truck, there is more parking, and the shrimp is still what I expected. Hot, buttery, garlicy, dripping in goodness, and just plain delicious. It is a little expensive at $13 a plate for 12 shrimps but it is HELLA worth it. Go make your mouth happy y'all!

    (5)

  • Jenna D.

    I was eager to try this food truck after hearing a lot of hype about it, but to me, this place is very OVER RATED. I had the lemon butter shrimp plate and my husband had a hot dog. The shrimp was ok. It didn't taste bad, but I've had A LOT better quality and for a cheaper price on the island too. My husband said the hot dog was good but nothing to brag about either. We ended up eating at a different food truck in the same location due to the disappointment and small portions. I give it two stars due to yelp's explanation of two star point system, "I've experienced better." Not the worst, but could have been a lot better due to all the hype, and bragging I have heard from tourist and locals alike. I personally recommend trying Dat Cajun Guy's or going somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Sherry G.

    So many shrimp trucks and so little time! Everyone has there favorite and Giovanni's is mine. Their garlic shrimp is super yummy! WARNING - don't be the only one in your party to eat this! The garlic smell will be coming out of your pores for hours! You've been warned! That said, the portions are generous and you get your order pretty quick.

    (4)

  • Bob L.

    Overrated. I suggest people try others. It's not bad but the 100s of flies around that area kinda made it worst. We tried three trucks that day and this will be the last place. Also found a piece of hair , it happends

    (2)

  • Josh C.

    overcooked shrimp. was not impressed.

    (3)

  • Jenna T.

    I'm literally salivating as I type this. I can't even begin to describe the tastiness that is Giovanni's garlic shrimp. First off, I love how they load up the plate with garlic. I hate when places claim to service garlic ____ and I can barely taste it! Thumbs up for that alone! I kinda wish the shrimp was deshelled but I understand that that would shrimp the shrimp up a lot! My first time here was last year which was when I tagged on the truck (the entire shrimp truck has stickers and scribbling on it) but for some reason, I couldn't find it this time around! Boo! I'll definitely come back here next year! Can't wait!!

    (5)

  • Sovannary S.

    I am not a HUGE fan of shrimp, I just started eating it actually. This place makes me love shrimp. Now, every time I go to the North Shore I will stop by here to eat! Fast service. Great shrimp!

    (5)

  • Jordan C.

    Get the shrimp scampi, get some napkins, get some hot sauce. Pig out. Delicious shrimps served with a wedge of lemon and some rice. Served pretty much instantly, just find a spot to sit down and enjoy. Worth the wait. A must try.

    (5)

  • Juv C.

    Yes. It's as good as everyone says it is. Make it a point to stop here.

    (5)

  • Em M.

    Stopped for some garlic shrimp during my trip to Hawaii. The shrimp was good... not earth shattering amazing but very tasty. i had not problems licking my fingers. :) The rice was cold and some of it wasn't cooked all the way. There shouldn't be hard bits of rice in each bite. I would go back for the shrimp but the rice.. take it or leave it. I would give the joint 4 stars but the staff.. not so friendly. That was the biggest disappointment.

    (3)

  • Johnny E.

    First time eating at a shrimp truck and it was pretty good. Food was very good as I had the shrimp scampi with garlic rice. Pretty good as the place was very busy and parking was limited. However like most of these roadside food areas, it was pretty gritty and not the cleanest place to eat. However it's all about the experience I guess. Would I go there again when I visit Oahu again? Probably not as there are tons of shrimp trucks along the North Shore. Though this is the most popular and one you may want to try first if you are interested in shrimp trucks. Service was good also and looked quite organized with as many people that were there.

    (3)

  • Shawnna E.

    No wonder everyone raves about this place! I ate the whole plate of shrimp scampi and I don't even like shrimp! Definitely worth the trek!

    (5)

  • Susanna W.

    It was pouring the day AL took us on a tour of the North Shore. Despite the unwelcoming weather we all braved the wet to chow down on sweet, succulent, garlicky shrimps from Giovanni's. Of course I got my own plate. Gobbled down in no time. Very yummy with rice. :]

    (4)

  • Tina H.

    Ordered the shrimp scampi, garlic hot dog and the home made macaroni salad. The price is like other shrimp trucks which are all a bit more on the pricier side. Everything on my plate was bathed in olive oil. The garlic dog was a regular hot dog with garlic bits not what I expected. Out of everything I ordered I finished the macaroni salad. I'm giving it three stars compared to Mackys.

    (3)

  • Sarah G.

    GARLIC GARLIC GARLIC!!! SHRIMP SHRIMP SHIRMP! That's basically all you need to know about this amazingly awesome shrimp truck that my friend Kelsie took us to. It is literally a truck/trailer that has a small kitchen inside of it that makes up some of the best shrimp I've had. Mainly because it comes absolutely smothered in minced garlic pieces and this sauce that I wish I had the recipe for. And you can even ask for some of their hot sauce on the side that just adds that spice that brings that dish up to a whole new level. They have a few picnic tables set up (there is also this smoothie truck next to the shrimp truck which I thought was weird because it was a newer truck complete with a flat screen tv inside and Giovani's truck was well, not new in the least bit ha) but you can at least sit outside in a semi-shaded area while you enjoy every bite of those tasty shrimp. And don't come here if you feel like eating like a lady. You just dig it and rip off the tails and your hands will definitely smell like garlic the rest of the day, but I am willing to do almost anything for garlic and shrimp and you should be too. These shrimp plates are not as cheap as I thought they would be at around $13 per plate but you do get a big plate of pretty decently sized shrimp. It just makes me wonder how much profit this place makes since it seems like it is completely family run and their only renting fee is the cost of the trailer which I am guessing is already paid off? Maybe I should open up a shrimp truck ;-)

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    I am sorry I have to give a one star. We have had many shrimp truck experinces from Maui to Oahu and Giovanni's Shrimp Truck just doesn't cut it. Giovanni's Shrimp Truck does not serve fresh shrimp. Their shirmps are frozen and they over cooked their shrimps. We are not impressed and I will not waste money on their shrimp plate again.

    (1)

  • Jay B.

    When Bubba was telling Forrest about shrimp, this is what he must have had in mind. Gotta come here every time we're in Oahu, and that's about once or twice a year, work pending. But I absolutely LOVE this place. Nothing like a dozen hot, garlicy scrumptious shrimp laid on top of a nice wam bed of rice to satisfy the tummy. I hate peeling shrimp, but not this type...they actually make it pretty easy, because the shrimp is pre-cut along the spine, so it's really easy to take off. Makes eating it so much better. The spicy option is pretty spicy, but not ridiculous...but you can always get the hot sauce on the side and mix and match :) Prices have been goin up since I first started hitting this spot up like 8 years ago, I think $13 is what we paid last time, but definitely worth it. We usually avoid the major lines by coming a little after lunch and try to get a table w/ our friends, so we don't have to worry about it. Just remember there are two, oops..THREE trucks(two on the west side, on on the east side...but all are the same great shrimp. The original one is the furthest from Waikiki, on the east side of the island..is it east or northeast? Doesn't matter, it's further...he he he. Service - eh..it can be good, it can be bad...but they're only taking your order and giving it to you, so there isn't too much to mention. Parking - never a problem near Turtle Bay, but the Haleiwa one can get a little crowded. And the OG one never has an issue w/ parking either.

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    over rated :( This place was dirty with flies everywhere. The food was just okay.. Macky's down the street was cleaner with better food.

    (2)

  • Alan B.

    Holy crap! Did I just all of a sudden become alergic to butter? For some odd reason, this round with Giovanni's didn't sit well with me as much as it normally does. I usually eat at the Kahuku truck but I was in North Shore and already half passed famished when we got there. I ordered my usual scampi but it tasted a lot worse than I remembered it to be, the garlic and butter were....off. And the sticky, messy tables were freaking annoying, the only good thing it did was keep the bag and napkins from flying away...seriously gross. I can't put it into words but I just want to forget this experience and remember eating at the Kahuku site.

    (2)

  • Peter H.

    Once again, I think this place is surviving on hype, much like Matsumotos Shave ice. First off, the parking lot for these trucks at this location is pretty small and given all the hype, almost impossible to find a spot. There will be a line, but the line will move pretty fast. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi for $13 with hot sauce on the side and my order was immediately prepared before I paid. You find a spot on the picnic benches outside and will be immediately surrounded by 100s of flies, which is expected I guess. The shrimp is hot so caution before you dig right in. The rice was very mushy and not to my liking. The shrimp was just so-so and seems like something you can make at home. Also, the shrimps were not large by any means. I'm glad i went once but will never go back again. I guess if you're visiting Honolulu/North Shore, you have to go just to say you went, but order one plate to start to just to see if you want to order more. I personally had a better experience at Titas, but hey thats just my opinion.

    (2)

  • Amanda J.

    Stopped by to pick up a beach lunch on my way to check out the surf on Monday-- so glad I did! I got a half order of the shrimp scampi and it was plenty: 6 juicy shrimp smothered in a garlic sauce that had huge chunks of roasted garlic with a scoop of rice and a big lemon wedge to squeeze over everything. Delicious! I will definitely go back to try the lemon butter shrimp, which also sounded good. Make sure you take cash, and don't be afraid to ask for your order to go.

    (4)

  • David D.

    Hands down one of the best garlic shrimp plate lunches I've ever had. I think it's the whole experience of ordering from the graffiti truck and writing on it if you like. Definitely ask for extra hot sauce as it'll satisfy your shrimp taste buds! Also, order a side of garlic hot dog to go with your plate. You will be happy you did.

    (5)

  • cpp a.

    OMG by far the best shrimp I have ever had! I shared a full order of the garlic shrimp with a friend and ate a half order of the hot & spicy shrimp bc I like it hot. Both preparations were phenomenal, I will definitely be making a trip there every time I visit the island from now on :-) p.s. Don't forget to sign your name on the truck!

    (5)

  • Char P.

    WHOOOOOHOOOOOOOOoooowow. I got to eat from da famous shrimp truck. I really don't know what everyones WOW is about it. problem #1 it's the true definition of what my childhood friend would call a FLY TRUCK. nice employees but damn a swarm of flies at someone's table while they eat?! problem #2 it's $13 for 2 scoops of rice and maybe 6-10 pieces of shrimp plus da sauces. I drenched my shrimp in the lemon butter and added more lemon just to taste the flavor. it's a cool truck that allows graffiti but it's not worth driving from town just to try sumthing new. I shuda spent my 30$ on a bag of shrimp20$ and 10$ on a bag of rice. wuda went longer. I understand the freshness... but the flavor definitely missed my taste buds...

    (2)

  • Aldora K.

    If you are ocd and do not like flies that go after your food while you wave them away... I highly suggest you think twice. Other than that.... This place is awesome! I highly recommend getting the shrimp Scampi. Nuff said....

    (4)

  • Chad Y.

    Giovanni's is the original shrimp truck and is hands down the place to go. Don't bother sharing the plate, its only twelve shrimps and you are bound to eat it all. The Shrimp Scampi si the most popular and is hands down the best...just be sure you don't have a date afterward or someone to impress since the garlic smell is bound to linger! The lemon shrimp is alright but nothing to wow, but if you like lemon, it sure is bound to please. If you are ever on the north shore, you need to stop by and enjoy this island delight!

    (4)

  • Chelsea C.

    Was told about this place as soon as we landed and went out one day just to look for it. We were not disappointed! Quick service and DELICIOUS shrimp! I recommend the getting the shrimp scampi with a side of the hot & spicy sauce!

    (5)

  • Arnold P.

    Scampi - shrimp swimming on butter and garlic on rice (best garlic rice!) - 5 STARS Hot & spicy - too spicy, can't taste the shrimp or anything else for that matter - 2 STARS Lemon - too much lemon again. A MUST! every time I'm in Oahu.

    (4)

  • Junko S.

    Holy ONO. This place does shrimp scampi right. For $13, you get a dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice. The flavors of oil, garlic, butter, and shrimp was a harmony in my mouth. There's covered seating so you can enjoy your meal right on the spot, or you can ask them to wrap it up so you can take it elsewhere. Parking was a breeze for us and although there was a line to order food, once we ordered and paid, we were able to browse the nearby shops. Definitely check this place out if you're in the North Shore.

    (5)

  • Cindy L.

    I've been going to Giovanni's for at least 12 years now and I live in town. Once in a while, I will make the drive to North Shore just to have a plate of Giovanni shrimp. I always have the shrimp scampi with hot sauce on the side. It's absolutely the best shrimp on the island. I try to make it at home, but it's not the same without the truck and benches and eating outside at North Shore.

    (5)

  • Allyssa B.

    Went twice on my recent trip to Oahu - the standard (but famous) shrimp scampi is finger-lickin good! Skip the rice and just get extra shrimp if you can. The line to order goes fast so don't be discouraged - it's really the wait that will get you but well worth it. We went to both trucks - the one at the beginning of Kam hwy and the one at the end. Parking is a little limited but hey, it is a tourist spot. Sign the truck while you're waiting or do a little shopping if you're at the one at the end of the North Shore. The shrimp is sweet and the garlic-butter-ovo isn't overbearing - you WILL want to lick your fingers when you peel the shrimp (LOL). For those who don't want to spend $13 on 12 shrimp get a half plate...I guarantee you'll want more though. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Ami M.

    Awesome food. Loved it. Don't expect a wine and done restaurant but they won't disappoint you! Must go if ur around north shore

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    A visit to North Shore is not complete without a stop at Giovanni's famous shrimp truck. We stopped for some garlic shrimp scampi at the truck just off of Downtown Haleiwa. I'd recommend getting your own plate, which comes with a dozen shrimp... I shared with 2 other girls, but secretly wanted my own. Actually, if we had more time, we were going to do a shrimp truck crawl... yes, that's why I agreed to share one plate. I loved the rice topped with garlic sauce that came with the shrimp - I could just eat that and be happy. It's about $14 a plate, so it's not super cheap truck fare. But it's definitely worth making a stop for! Make sure you bring hand sanitizer or moist towelettes for your hands, and travel sized mouthwash too. That garlic will stave off vampires!

    (4)

  • Chrissy C.

    GARLIC SHRIMP SCAMPI!! Period. I mean - exclamation point! IT WAS SOOOOOOOO GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUD! Some of the BEST SHRIMP I'VE EVER HAD! There's so much garlic, but it's so nicely roasted in the oil and complements the shrimp-y rice-y goodness so well! *DROOLS* Oh, how I rue the fact that I can't get this on the mainland! It's probably going to be another few years before I get to eat this again. OMG, I think a part of me just died at the realization! *tears* T__________________T

    (5)

  • Eila S.

    I'm not the biggest fan of shrimp. I can only eat so much before my slight allergy to it starts acting up. The lemon butter is nothing special. The shrimp scampi was really good, as flavorful as Boiling Crab. Which makes you wonder... The prices are definitely steep for what you're getting. What makes Giovanni's so special is how fresh the shrimp really is. If you're not too keen on overly seasoned shrimp and more focused on freshness of the seafood you're eating, then definitely stop by Giovanni's.

    (4)

  • Erica S.

    Been waiting to try this Shrimp Truck and finally made it out here after visiting the Dole Pineapple Plantation close by. I went on a weekday before 12pm and there was hardly a line. Ordered the shrimp scampi ($13) which comes with 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of rice. Have to admit that it was pretty tasty, but I was just expecting a little more flavor. Shrimp is very conveniently deveined, but you still have to peel off the shells with your hands. Lady who took my ordered was not the friendliest, but wasn't mean either. It just wouldn't hurt for her to smile.

    (3)

  • gee H.

    There TWO Shrimp Trucks. One in Kahuku and the other in Haleiwa. The one in Haleiwa, the name is spelled on an arc on side of truck. The one in Kahuku the name is flat on side of truck. I ate at this one in Haleiwa. First, yes the hot and spicy is VERY spicy!!!! It could make you choke. BUT, put on some lemon juice from the supplied lemon wedges and the shrimp become VERY palatable AND DELICIOUS!! We had the scampi, the spicy and everyone loved it. Not many flies, but parking was an issue. They ONLY take cash, but there is a ATM across the road and up street at McDonalds. We were staying in Waikiki with all its excesses and after eating at Giovanni's my wife said it was the best dish she had since there in Oahu! Really, the spicy will be OK if you put a lot of lemon juice on it.

    (4)

  • Stan L.

    I've tried Macky's, Romy's and Giovanni's. Macky's was the better of the three. Tasty, well balanced flavor, friendly service and clean tables. Romy's was my next favorite. Tasty and the shrimp were fresh. Only downside was they took a long time to make it. Giovanni's was the worst. The spicy shrimp were overcooked, mealy and way too sour. Service was indifferent and the tables were dirty and sticky.

    (1)

  • Jess Y.

    It was great to finally try out this famous shrimp truck. The portions were alright for th $13.00. Ordered the shrimp scampi, according to the local we spoke to he liked the scampi. The shrimp ended up being chewy and overcooked. Bring a Sharpie and write on the truck.

    (3)

  • Patrick G.

    Great shrimp scampi lunch with a side of hot sauce. Being new to the island, I received lots of word of mouth recommendations for Giovanni's and I am so glad i was able to experience it first hand. I definitely plan on going back.

    (5)

  • Aishling R.

    So my friend told me that there were some shrimp trucks up on the north shore that we could check out. Shrimp? Out of a truck? Oh, yes. This isn't your typical food truck. It has it's own seating area and stalls where you can pick up knick-knacks. If you want shrimp, you have 3 choices: scampi, hot and spicy or lemon butter. I went for the world-famous shrimp scampi. It's a bit pricey at $13 a plate, but you are paying for freshness and quality. When my number was called, I picked up my plate piled high with at least 12-15 shrimp and 2 large scoops of rice smothered in garlic. You peel your own shrimp, so it gets a bit messy, but it tastes SO good! Definitely merits a stop if you're up on Oahu's north shore!

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    Had the spicy shrimp despite the warning. If you like your food spicy, this is what you want. If you only eat spicy food on occasion, order the scampi because the heat from the shrimp will kick you in teeth in and then stab your tongue. I love spicy food and I even had trouble with it. Nonetheless, it tasted great and I finished it like a champ. For the amount of shrimp and rice, it's reasonably priced. Just try to bring your own drinks on the way down, it keeps the cost down if there are few mouths to feed.

    (4)

  • Angel O.

    Garlic Shrimp's delicious. I always make sure to stop at Giovanni's every time I'm in Northshore. The service is good, parkin's always available and so is seating. The food's inexpensive as well. I'll always go to Giovanni's.

    (4)

  • D L.

    Love it. Just remember to wipe down the table :)

    (5)

  • Tressy M.

    Mouth-watering!!!!!! Be warned-they are not de-shelled or deveined if you are picky! Too bad I am a tourist and cannot come often ;(

    (5)

  • T L.

    O V E R R A T E D. After a long afternoon lounging on various North Shore beaches and working up a gigantic appetite, we decided to try a shrimp truck. I was expecting a lot since everyone raves about these delicious shrimp trucks. And I, myself, am a huge, huge shrimp lover! There are 2 lines: Order and Pick Up. BOTH lines were PAINFULLY long! Then again, they're literally working out a sweat shop aka a white truck. I think it took us about 45 MINUTES to 1 HOUR to order and pick up our food. We ordered: - Shrimp Scampi ($13 - most popular): shrimp with this garlicky goodness on top, but it was VERY salty. - Shrimp with Lemon/Butter ($13): this was my dish and I wish I got the spicy shrimp instead because lemon/butter sauce tasted like NOTHING! - Hot Dog ($3.50): "jumbo" hot dog was NOT so jumbo! - 1 Soda ($1.50 each): ONE FREE SODA with YELP/4SQUARE CHECK IN! I didn't like the Lemon/Butter sauce because it was bland but I was skittish to try the Hot & Spicy shrimp. You can ask for the sauce on the side so I got to try it and it wasn't as spicy as I thought it would be! However, it was pretty salty so use it sparingly :) I liked the garlicky sauce on the Shrimp Scampi but overall, the meal was disappointing. Our sodas got cold by the time we got our food but you can swap them out for cold ones when you're picking up your food!

    (3)

  • Garota A.

    I hardly write any reviews with the exception if the food is extremely good or very bad. In this case, I was very disappointed with Giovanni's shrimp plate. Sorry, I expected a lot more specially because of the high ratings and hype. A couple of days earlier, we tried Romy's. It was really delicious and worth the wait! Giovanni's shrimp plate was full of grease and garlic! We could barely eat and felt gross about it. We didn't finish our plates and decided to go back to Romy's. There's a reason why Romy's has long lines! It is far better! Don't waste your money or drive to Giovanni's! Not worth it!

    (1)

  • Sunny D.

    I've eaten at Giovanni's Kahuku location and decided to take mom to this one since it's nearby. It's pretty popular especially with the tourist and always seems busy, we went on a Monday for lunch. We ordered one garlic/butter and one lemon butter. I have to say that the lemon butter was a bit of a disappointment, but I figured it would be since I do love my garlic. The lemon/butter was on the liquidy side and not much flavor, I wouldn't order it again. The garlic butter was delish, and yes as suggested by aother reviewer, I did suck the shells to get at all that garlicky goodness. That said, don't know about going again because we figured $1 for two scoops of rice and $1 per shrimp is pretty pricy.

    (4)

  • Jeraldine O.

    Going to the north shore side is always good to visit on a nice sunny day in Hawaii because you can stop by at the Giovanni's shrimp shack. I LOVE there garlic shrimp. Tasty and satisfying. Parking is not that great and table availability is not that great it can great crowded and all tables can fill up quickly... But to me that's okay because the food just makes up for it. They only take cash. Big pieces of shrimp covered with butter and garlic.. YUM! Everything to satisty your craving palate.

    (5)

  • monica c.

    Grosssss!! This place doesnt even come close to Macky's my husband & I had the spicy shrimp and it had this spicy tart sauce on it disgusting & the shrimp tasted rubbery like they weren't very fresh they're pricey and dont even serve a salad or pineapple wedge I'll never eat here again!

    (1)

  • Eric S.

    I found this place by accident about ten years ago when driving around the island after dropping my buddies off for a round of golf. It was me, the USC softball team and 12 shrimp. Definitely my most memorable moment of that booze-fogged trip. But enough of the way back machine. When we decided to go to Hawaii, this was my one must stop on our culinary itinerary. It didn't disappoint. I had the garlic shrimp (good thing we got a convertible) the wife had the lemon butter shrimp (mmm... lemony) and the boy got the garlic hotdog. He was a bit turned off by the garlic at first, but ended up eating the whole thing, then he tried to talk us into letting him eat the rest of our shrimp (which he was also initially said he didn't like). It was even better the second time around!

    (5)

  • Cassie C.

    OH.MY.GAWD!!!! Sooooo deeeelish!!! I have been dreaming of this lil roadside jem since I've been back on the mainland. Definitely a lil pricey - but I think that's just the impression you get since it's on the side of the road. I'd pay way more if it was some nice restaurant in Waikiki. The music they played out of the truck was awesome, the guy that works there is HOT and so is the girl (BTW: I met your brother coincidentally in a lagoon in Paradise Cove! Crazy!!). I wanted to take 6 plates back to my hotel so I could just eat it all day, but you only accept cash and my pockets were empty. I can't wait to come back!!

    (5)

  • nicole b.

    I would give it 5 stars, but there is something about the roadside truck that stops me. HOWEVER, this was the biggest surpise of my life. I was so skeptical of a roadside shrimp truck in Hawaii with an Italian name. That'll teach me! The scampi is good, so is the spicy shrimp, and you cannot beat the price. The shrimp are in the shells, so its a messy experience with the sauce all over them but worth it. Beware of copy cats along the road....hold out for this original!

    (4)

  • Becky T.

    So freakin' good! I got the 12 shrimp scampi and the two scoops of rice that was just drenched with garlic, butter, and who knows what other delicious grease. It was a bit of a messy affair considering that the shrimp weren't peeled, but though inconvenient the shell is probably what makes it so flavorful and the shrimp were large. I didn't have any probs with flies, though there was an annoying bee, but we're eating outside so that's expected. There is a bathroom in the building in the lot behind the truck and it was surprisingly clean, so you can wash up and do your business after you fill your belly. So much garlic that I'll probably smell like garlic all week, but it's worth it. For those non-garlic lovers, other than the scampi they have hot-and-spicy shrimp and also lemon butter shrimp. Also option of having hot dogs. My friend was disappointed that they didn't have deep fried coconut shrimp like at Romy's but he loved the scamp as well.

    (4)

  • Catherine M.

    I always make time to visit Giovanni when I'm in Hawaii. The shrimp is always great. I wished there was more of this in the mainland.

    (4)

  • Retired B.

    Tried the hot & spicy shrimp, lemon & butter shrimp, and garlic hotdog. Good, but not as spectacular as everyone says it is. The hot sauce was kinda weird tasting to me. -1 star deduction since I got two killer mosquito bites sitting here... on my feet! ... since I was wearing pants. They were extremely itchy.

    (3)

  • Jack L.

    omg it was so good. so garlic-ey, so shrimpy, and so delicious. I tried a half and half with the scampi and the spicey. scampi was amazing, spicey not so much. It just tasted like a modified version of sriracha sauce, and it overpowered the shrimp too much.

    (5)

  • Surai J.

    Huh???? Overrated! I'm so disapointed as this was my #1 must eat stop on my self-made hole in the wall (truck:-) tour. I got the shrimp scampi and the garlic hotdog. The hotdog was very good, different, a definite 4 star. The shrimp scampi was garlicky... it was fine, just fine 1 star. A bit overcooked for my preference. So glad i found the truck next door with THE most amazing pad thai after driving all the way there.

    (2)

  • Terry F.

    The order: Garlic Butter Shrimp Spicy Shrimp Time from order to eat (at about 1pm): 30 minutes Verdict: Very tasty, a tad bit overcooked. The garlic butter had A LOT of garlic and a LOT of butter. The rice was good. The spicy shrimp was no joke. Make sure you have a drink to go with that one. Definitely worth the wait, but I was still hungry afterwards.

    (4)

  • Ivan L.

    Good eats! 12 shrimp w/2 scoops of rice for $13. I think the shrimp have gotten smaller but it is still delicious. The scampi is the best, don't waste your time with the lemon butter. All the garlic is just amazing! The spicy is usually way too spicy, you can always ask for hot sauce on the side. The sitting area is pretty gross as it is a bunch of picnic tables with bird poo all over it.... Also, there are mosquitoes EVERYWHERE! In my opinion the Giovanni's in Kahuku is better.

    (4)

  • Danielle Y.

    Given me some garlic shrimp lovin' any day, any time. It's pretty much the last (or the first, depending on where you're coming from) truck you'll come across. On a busy, hot day you can smell the garlic from a couple hundred yards away. Smell orgasm. Oh Yeah. Anyway, if you want anything other than garlic scampi shrimp, go somewhere else (I like Romy's spicy stuff). However, if you want 12 shrimps and 2 scoops of rice slathered in a grossly wonderful garlic butter sauce (toasted garlic...drool) for $12, this is where you should be. (For folks who hate shellfish there IS a $3 hotdog option, though it's been cooked in the same pan as the shellfish, so not a dietary consideration). Never taken anyone here who didn't love the savory garlic goodness. However, they get a minus one star for not having an outdoor sink. It is impossible to shove 12 shrimp in your mouth without getting butter and garlic EVERYWHERE, so a sink would be appreciated.

    (4)

  • Judie H.

    food...was four stars because shrimp was slightly soggy...but autographing the truck gave it 5 again

    (5)

  • Stephanie B.

    Giovanni's Aloha Shrimp is a must stop if you're in Oahu. The portions are average size. The garlic shrimp is the best. There's also a few other flavors: butter, lemon, and cajun. The hot dogs was okay but nothing too spectacular. The cool part of this spot is all the graffiti on the truck.

    (5)

  • Lily C.

    giovanni's served me the best plate of garlic with a side of shrimp i've ever had!

    (5)

  • Pete H.

    The Scampi was great and the $3 Garlic Hot Dog is the deal to not miss! The service was quicker than in the past and the workers were really friendly! We dealt with the local fauna fun by taking the food to go and ate it overlooking the North Shore. Hey I did not go to the North Shore to look at the valley of the roach coaches!

    (4)

  • Mika D.

    Don't believe the hype. Seriously. I was expecting GREATNESS after a few people talking about how the garlic shrimp scampi was off the hook. It was bland considering it was mounting with enough garlic to repel vampires, was hoping they added more sodium. They charged $12 per plate. (oh hell no) And it didn't come with soda, either! If it wasn't for the red ants, scavenger birds and flies, my experience would've great. At least I can say I went there and tried it.

    (3)

  • Christopher Q.

    The shrimp itself was quite good but it was expensive for what you are getting. The sauce was really nice with the garlic and the lemon and the spice. I don't know if it is really worth the drive up to the north shore just to have this or if I would line up if it was super crowded. However if you are in the neighborhood, it's a good place to check out. Just temper your expectations and you will be fine.

    (3)

  • Deb M.

    Overrated...over garlicky, over priced .....girls in the truck were not friendly and waited15 minutes for so so shrimp.... Only went here because of the review given by Guy Fierro on the food network.... Big miss Guy!

    (1)

  • Lina O.

    oooohhhhhhh.... eeeemmmmmm..... geeeeeeeeee!!!!!! if you would have said "i got some bomb ass shrimp OUT OF A TRUCK" here in LA, you would definitely get the shits and who knows what other stomach problems. wow this shrimp is impressive! you drive up and theres this lil dirty crappy looking truck with graffiti all over it. apparently there are sharpies laying around and you can sign your name on the truck (there werent any, so i couldnt leave my mark) they only had the shrimp scampi at the time, but its okay, because thats all we wanted! WOW! i think you get like 12 shrimps and it was so freakin good, i ate the whole thing like the fat pig that i am! it came with this hot sauce which made it even more delicious! besides the fact that there were these mean ol' black flies flying around trying to get a piece of the action too, this place is BOMBDIGGITY! must-go-to place!!!

    (5)

  • Alan K.

    Whoa, scampi. That's all I have to say. It was well worth the long, but scenic drive.

    (5)

  • Mimi W.

    Not quite as good as I remember it being the first two times I had it in previous years. The shrimp was damn fresh, but the garlic-ness tasted a little powdery and artificial to me, even though the plate was loaded with real bits of garlic. Like someone said, the rice could have been a better quality, and a side of mac salad wouldn't hurt, for $12 either. Big ass flies Guard your food! Great drive to the N. Shore though!

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    another first of mine's accomplished. drove from hawaii kai around the island to haleiwa in a lightning storm to get a taste of kahuku shrimp for the first time. the shrimp was delicious. my friends and i didn't even bother savoring the flavor, we basically inhaled it. minus a star for the shabby seating area, flies, and service. the people working in the truck did not look very happy, almost kinda rude.

    (4)

  • Fern D.

    Shrimp scampi done Hawaiian style--garlicky, drenched with melted butter and all cooked in the back of a truck (think roach coach). I hate peeling shrimp, but I love scampi, and the garlicky, the better! Two scoops of rice covered with the garlic butter sauce, oh, mama! Anyhow, you pay $12 a plate, so basically, $1 a shrimp since you get a dozen. Not too bad. If only they could keep the dang flies and birds away! It's kind of gross, so you find yourself rushing to peel and eat your shrimp so the flies don't land! Yuck. Better to have a friend with you there, so you can take turns swatting the flies away from your plate while you eat.

    (4)

  • Tony D.

    Went to the "original" Giovanni's in 2003. This one was also OH SO GOOD! I enjoyed eating all 12 of my shrimp on my plate. Thought about getting another order while I was finishing my 12th shrimp, but came to my senses and told my stomach to calm down! Another good place to hit up!

    (5)

  • Cristine D.

    Really delicious. I preferred the shrimp from Mikes truck just bc these were really oily but they were bomb nonetheless. My husband liked these better. We both got garlic scampi.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    If you have a hot date, don't eat the Shrimp scampi! I love garlic and you'll smell like garlic for a day or two but it's so good! You can't top the scampi from Giovanni's.

    (5)

  • Stuart D.

    Part of the hawaii experience. The shrimp are great. Bring some gum and a toothbrush, they use a ton of garlic! I also tried the spicy and they were good too. Have to try Romy's next time.

    (4)

  • Michelle E.

    We went here last Thursday and arrived around 2:30. We got an order of the scampi and a half order of the lemon & butter, because that's all they had left. The scampi was good and had lots of garlic, just the way we like it but, honestly, my scampi is better! The lemon & butter was just so-so, nothing special. Our timing was good, so we didn't have to wait long for our order. The service could have been friendlier. The overall experience didn't really rock our world but we did get a kick out of the cats hanging around waiting for morsels!

    (3)

  • Steph X.

    the shrimps are so big! but its definitely one of the pricier shrimp trucks in the north shore. it was still very good. does not come with mac salad, just rice. the owners are super sweet and kind. i like it.

    (4)

  • Maris D.

    In my own perfect world, the Giovanni's shrimp truck would be parked in my living room (on that note, my living room would be big enough to house a giant shrimp truck). mmmmmmmmmmmmm. i could eat the garlic butter prawns every day for every meal and not get sick of it. EVER! Every time I'm in Oahu, this destination is a must.

    (5)

  • Aj P.

    See my Romy's review. All these shrimp shacks, ehem, motor homes are basically the same in quality and experience. If you're on the north shore, you gotta hit one of them for the quintessential burpalicious grinds. Bring a Sharpie to graffiti the truck.

    (3)

  • Angela Y.

    Delish shrimp scampi and garlic hot dog! The only downfall is the flies trying to get a piece of my shrimps too.

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    My wife had the Lemon and Butter Shrimp plate while I went with the Garlic. Both were pretty good but as a previous post said, if you are looking for something clean, this may not be the place for you. There are quite a bit of flies and we just took our food back to the car to eat. Luckily we had a rental car, but it smelled of garlic, lemon, and butter for the rest of the trip! Good food but prepared to be a little messy and uncomfortable.

    (3)

  • Mike M.

    I had the shrimp scampi and it was very delicious. It gets a little messy eating the shrimp. Recommend getting there a little early as it gets extremely busy.

    (4)

  • Natalie T.

    I love everything giovanni has! I wish we had it here in california! The scampi is my FAVORITE! and so is their hot dog and I'm not a fan of hot dogs! I love everything about it! I'm a biiiiig fan of garlic so I loved it!

    (5)

  • AhLin C.

    $12 for a plate of shrimp. I would say a good deal. It's a shrimp truck tucked to the side of the road. We ordered the shrimp scampi and the spicy shrimp. Spicy is really super spicy. Both our friend's lip swelled up b/c it was so spicy. haha. it was quite funny to watch. My fav. is the shrimp scampi. Juicy and w/ lots of garlic! yum!

    (4)

  • Brandy L.

    over-rated. we got garlic and spicy. garlic was meh. once you've had Romy's... Spicy was friggin crazy spicy...and this is coming from a female who regularly has backend pain from all the spicy she eat's. it's like a spicy sour. the more i ate the better it got. but still i dun think i would order it again...it's like tabasco sauce gone crazy. and i rarely ever ever use tabasco, only as a last resort wait, there is an upside. you can find coupons in those coupon books for this place. if you gotta try it, don't pay full price yay.

    (2)

  • S S.

    There I was...my fingers covered in spicy goodness, sweating from the spiciness, nose running. My mouth is watering just thinking about Giovanni's and the hot and spicy shrimp. OMG! The shrimp are nice and big and so worth $12. I must have said "This is soooo good" about 20 times during my meal. WARNING: Don't order these if you equivilate really spicy to Taco Bell's Fire Sauce because you will be in for a rude awakening. When Giovanni's means spicy they mean SPICY! The only thing I miss was the butterflied katsu shrimp I had last time I was there. It was a few years back so I guess they must have taken them off the menu since then. Oh well! Next time your in da North Shore stop at Giovanni's and get your shrimp on! :)

    (5)

  • Michelle T.

    I don't normally eat shrimp, but I checked this place out last year when I went to Oahu with friends. Yesterday, I was determined to bring my family there before we made our drive to the Polynesian Cultural Center. We got there before noon, and it was busier at the other shrimp truck in the parking lot. However, I assured my family that we were going to the one with all the writing on it. Matter of fact, I found where I wrote my name on the truck last year! I ordered the shrimp scampi with rice. While some might say that 12 shrimp for $12 is pricey, it was awesome shrimp. They must marinate the shrimp in the sauce longer than some of their competitors because the flavor is throughout the shrimp rather than just on top of it. And you get huge chucks of garlic. Last year, I ordered shrimp from one of the other shrimp trucks in the parking lot, while my friends ordered from Giovanni's. We exchanged shrimp, and I regretted being the one stuck with the non-Giovanni's shrimp. This year, I was very happy to have my own plate of Giovanni's shrimp!

    (5)

  • Tara J.

    Great shrimp! There are a lot of little trucks when you drive around the Island and I would suggest stopping. It is a very casual setting- picnic tables. Be careful of the flies- they are everywhere! Also, they only take cash. It is a fun experience and the shrimp/ garlic rice is GREAT!

    (4)

  • Judy L.

    My boyfriend and I went to hawaii for the first time this past week and EVERYONE recommended this place. I have to say I'm not a huge fan of garlic but their shrimp scampi was REALLY good. It's pretty decent size shrimp loaded with all kinds of herbs and garlic, swimming in butter, accompanied with white rice which is also topped off with the same garlic/butter mixture. It's kind of messy because the shell's (are they called shells?) still on but major props for de-veining the shrimp. My biggest issue with shrimp places is that some shrimp are de-veined properly and some aren't. This place had meticulously cleaned shrimp. I dropped the one star because I loathe flies of all kinds and unfortunately this place had more than a few of them. I definitely recommend this Giovanni's!

    (4)

  • Tai T.

    Maybe it was because it was the second place we stopped which is why Giovanni's is getting a lower review than I gave Fumi's. The rice was too wet and the lemon and butter shrimp were just OK to me. Looks like we shoud of tired the spicy shrimp?

    (3)

  • Adrienne T.

    I first took my then boyfriend, now husband, to Hawaii about 5 years ago. We ate at this shrimp truck twice in one week. He was hooked, and I've been hooked since before he exhisted in my life. We go to Hawaii at least twice a year, and it's always a stop for us. We attempted to make it at home, but it never came out as good, but it was close enough. The trip out during our wedding, we actually had 2 plates to each of us. Yes folks, I swallowed 24 shrimps and all the rice. This place is ridiculusly good. It literally is a lunch truck, plastered with graffiti, with old ass lunch tables, and wild cats roaming about. Screw the hot dog, but order the shrimp with your special hawaiian juice in a can. The spicy is spicy, but only for those who can handle the chili. I have a major feen for hot food, and this stuff actually made me tear a little. You surf, eat shrimp, take nap on beach, surf some more, and eat more shrimp. Sounds about right.

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    The shrimp themselves were ginormous and amazing. But oh my goodness, the garlic was overpowering. In my opinion, the thick (yes, literally thick) layer of garlic sauce dumped all over these shrimp nearly ruined them. They were still good, but absolutely drenched. My dad won't go near garlic, but he loves shrimp, so this was a great tragedy to him. The side of rice was no great shakes either.

    (3)

  • Matt K.

    A recommendation from a co-worker who is a native of Oahu, Giovanni's delivered awesome shrimp as promised. It took us awhile to find it on Kamehamea Hwy when we were driving but remember one thing....only stop at the white truck with the black writing all over it! That is the original...there are many imitators before it when you are driving. We got a seasonal special, 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of rice for $12. My first thought was that it was a little steep to be charging $12 for shrimp out of the back of a truck....but boy did I forget about that when I sunk my teeth into that first shrimp. This is a big deal for me because I usually HATE shrimp that come with the shells on. At Giovanni's, the shells were easy to pull off and there was no excrements left on the shrimp. They were cut out completely! They came with a great garlic butter sauce and a lemon. Man, I ate all 12 of my shrimp so fast and then started on some of my dad's!!! This is a MUST stop on the island of Oahu.

    (5)

  • gf b.

    Went to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck on a recent trip to Oahu. Along with the Thai food truck next to it, you can make a great lunch ! I get the feeling that the local Costco is doing a great business with these places. Nothing wrong with that as the operators are making a great lunch for a reasonable price using food you or I could also get from Costco. They do a great job with very basic ingredients. I got the garlic sauteed shrimp plate with rice, and a diet coke from Giovanni's. Then put in an order for some spring rolls from the Thai truck and a bottle of water. Sitting at the covered outdoor tables in the breeze was really a nioce break from the hot humid day so typical in Hawaii. Finished it off with a smoothy from the smoothy truck. Very yummy. All in all I recommend this place for a reasonably priced, yummy, outdoor lunch. Just don't expect anything "Hawaiian" unless you can get it at Costco.

    (3)

  • kana m.

    Garlic Shrimp Scampi! was amazing! me and my friend shared one plate, b/c i have a small stomach and we were stuffing ourselves with food all day.. but the shrimp is amazing (i just wish they take the time to peel off the outer shrimp shell)... but a must try if you are visiting the North Shore! :)

    (4)

  • Julia S.

    Despite the fact I have to drive to Haleiwa, peel the shrimp myself, scrap off the excess chunks of garlic, have flies and dogs fight me for my food and get a stomach ache after from all the garlic and butter, I STILL like this place. Thats pretty amazing to me. Only go if your on that side of the island. If you make a special trip out there you'll be disappointed. Get the original shrimp and if you want the $10 fruit smoothie next door its not bad either.

    (3)

  • joe l.

    Absolutely a must when you tour the island. Got garlic and scampi style, everyone was a fan. will always go back, better than other shrimp vendors in the area.

    (4)

  • Chris C.

    Honestly, the shrimp was really fresh but I think they skimped on the garlic for us. They also ran out of rice so we went down the road to a Thai food truck. Unfortunately, the curator convinced us to buy sticky rice. That didn't do it for us. Plain rice soaks up the garlic flavour better. I will try this place again but until then, just four stars.

    (4)

  • StefnScottman I.

    I was so full from lunch but we drove to the north shore right after and we had to stop here! First timer.....ONO! The butter and garlic were perfect.....gotta stop by here if you haven't tried it! you'll be addicted!

    (4)

  • Caitlin P.

    This place was my first stop once I arrived in oahu. Drove about 45 mins from the airport to here. The line was long but went by fairly quick....but food took forever to come! My friend and I shared the garlic shrimp plate...13 bucks for a dozen shrimp. Shrimp was fresh and the garlic was amazing. Loved every bite of it. It definitely sets the standard high for the rest of my food adventures in hawaii. It was raining..about to pour when we were there, so we drove to the McDonald's across the street, bought a soda In there and ate there. So glad we did because It started to pour like crazy.

    (4)

  • Gunnar V.

    Wow. Rex really likes Giovanni's. Apparently a lot of people do because we went on a Friday afternoon and we were about the last people to get a plate before they sold out at around 1 o'clock. Haleiwa is not particularly well stocked with good-looking restaurants and so when we happened upon Giovanni's in a lot along with another shrimp truck and a thai truck (which looked good) we said "sure". We got the scampi. Yes, it's $12 for two scoops of rice and 12 shrimp. Yes, you get about a stick's worth of butter and a bulb of garlic. Yes, it's good. But is it divine? Well, not really. I mean, you are eating shrimp out of a truck. When we went there was a kid in there -- must have been "take your son to work day". And you are eating at a picnic table that is lacquered with butter and shrimp juice. And you've probably got sun screen and sand all over yourself since there are no facilities. Call me a purist but dining a la truck gets a maximum of 4 stars. Recommended on a trip to the north shore.

    (4)

  • Cheryl C.

    0.5 star! Way overrated and definitely a tourist ripoff! The Lemon & Butter shrimp is mediocre and the rice sucks. This place pales in comparison to Blue Water Shrimp & Seafood Co. in Honolulu!

    (1)

  • Lilo F.

    My bf and I were on a mission to try as many shrimp trucks on the North Shore as possible while we were staying in the area, so we ate at a different one each day. Giovanni's was the first shrimp truck we tried, and we both agreed it was definitely the best. The butter garlic sauce was delicious, plus they give you more shrimp than the other places. It was pretty pricey at $12/plate, but worth it for the buttery garlic goodness. Next time we visit the area, we'll know which shrimp truck to hit up.

    (5)

  • Janessa L.

    you've got to make a trip out to giovanni's especially if you're going to drive out to the north shore. mmm garlic shrimp scampi with garlic sauce all over the rice. oh, and if you can get your hands on that small coupon book, you can get a free drink =) with your purchase (love those coupon books!). it's a real fun experience. i wonder if the lemon garlic shrimp is any different. i love the note under #2 super spicy shrimp: "No refunds!" haha that's sucks! we were tempted to try other trucks just to see if giovanni's was really that much better but we didn't have time (nor enough meals)! i guess its just best to savor the best, right? next time, we'll do a comparison test.

    (4)

  • Monica B.

    let me start by saying, i'm not 100% sure i'm not allergic to shrimp. but that didn't stop me from stealing smackerels from my boyfriend's shrimp scampi! the wait was a little long, but obviously because this place is a totally iconic! totally worth the wait, and was the perfect stop point on a beautiful drive around the island.

    (5)

  • Harry T.

    5 stars because this place is really worth the hype, the drive from Honolulu, and the $13. I tried all three flavors, the scampi, hot and spicy, and lemon garlic butter. All of them are very good. Wish they have a truck here in Honolulu.

    (5)

  • Gerard G.

    When we pulled in the parking area, we had to wait a few minutes to get a parking spot. There are several food trucks located here, and each has several specific tables that they ask you eat at depending on which food truck you go. There was also a little wait to order and it took a few minutes before our shrimp plates were ready. We got several orders of the shrimp scampi and some of the lemon/butter shrimp and both tasted absolutely delicious. Plus, the two scoops of rice they served seemed adequate. I'd say that shrimp plates tasted similar to other outdoor food trucks/stands but the difference was that: 1) The shells on the shrimp scampi at Giovanni's was pre-cut...so it was much easier to peel the shrimp and start eating right away. 2) All the items on the menu were available. Other places we went to said they were out of or not serving certain items 3) There weren't that many annoying flies buzzing around...so we didn't have to keep swatting at them during our meal compared to other places. Overall, a great experience and I'd love to go back. BTW...if you need to go to the restroom...just go to the McD's across the way or wait til you get to a certain shave ice place down the street.

    (4)

  • Kimberly E.

    DEFINITELY A MUST IF YOU ARE IN THE NORTH SHORE AREA. This hidden gem can be found in a parking lot in North Shore. Parking is very limited, so I suggest finding parking somewhere else and taking the walk. Believe me, it is worth it. Giovanni's is absolutely amazing. Their shrimp scampi ($13) is to die for. If you love garlic, this is the place for you. All of their selections, including the shrimp scampi, hot and spicy, and lemon butter, come with about 12 decent sized shrimp (with the shell still on) and two scoops of rice. The aroma that comes from the truck while standing in line is strong enough to make your mouth water. The food comes out at a fairly fast pace. And it comes piping hot too. I usually order the shrimp scampi. The shrimp is perfectly cooked. Not chewy or tough. And the garlic sauce that it is covered in is so flavorful. It is also very dangerous. Beware: if you plan on going on a date after eating this stuff, you will regret it. This sauce will make your breath stink for a while.

    (5)

  • Kat M.

    Simple and delicious, the perfect combination! I've wanted to eat at Giovanni's forever and finally made it here for lunch yesterday, and it was as amazing as I had hoped. $13 for the shrimp scampi plate, comes with a dozen shrimp swimming in a ton of garlic and two small scoops of rice. That garlic tho! Cash only! This place is in a little area with a few other food trucks, but Giovanni's steals the show fo sho! Plenty of picnic tables to sit outside and enjoy but the downside is that there are plenty of flies around.

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    I had to make the trek up near North Shore just so I can have some of their famous shrimp rice plates. Just something about the combination of flavors of lemon, butter and the rice really enhances the shrimp eating experience. It's like a citrus melody in your mouth. And eating with your fingers especially with the rice is highly encouraged. Cash only here. Also, no public restrooms so either piss before you get here or just hold it until you are done. Also, bring some wipes too.

    (4)

  • Andy V.

    My god this is so unhealthy for you. If you're in the north shore, Giovanni's is a must. Get a scampi plate and gobble down all those shrimps. It's very oily, very heavy, and very good. The rice absorbs all that delicious sauce, and while your arteries may regret it later, you'll have a good time. Bring it to go and enjoy it on the beach with a couple of cold ones.

    (5)

  • Lloyd B.

    Better location because there's almost no wait! It takes no time to order and the food is served immediately. The scampi plate is as good as it's ever been. Parking is still tough. With four other food trucks flanking Giovanni's, this is still the most popular by far. The scampi is so tasty. A dozen good sized shrimp with two scoops of rice covered in garlic with a slice of lemon. The lemon butter shrimp plate is okay. Very good with its dipping sauce though. The garlic hot dog is a regular all beef hotdog with garlic sauce over two scoops of rice. I'd take a pass on this. You're coming for the shrimp scampi anyway. This is what you've read and heard about. Get here already!

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    I guess all shrimp trucks is all based on flavor preference. Myself personally this was my least favorite spot. The shrimps are small and its soOoo salty! They do give you a good amount of shrimp but I didn't even finish it. Sorry guys. Great customer service though. But this truck didn't do it for me.

    (2)

  • Jaylene R.

    You know it's good when the locals rave about it. As it is a food truck, it's a dirt parking lot shared with a couple of other places, and there are picnic-style benches with flies everywhere, yuck. I usually take my food to go and eat it on a nearby beach which isn't too far away or hard to find. It's conveniently located to where you can grab a cone of Matsumoto's shaved ice afterwards, (known for its famous customers including stars of the movie 50 First Dates) a quick minute drive down the street. The shaved ice at Matsumoto's is a little overrated but let's not get too carried away here. SO flippin' obsessed with their garlic shrimp and garlic-crusted white rice. As odd as it is, I like a bigger rice ratio over any meat/seafood, and ESPECIALLY here with garlic rice, so I always order an extra scoop. My usual order is half garlic shrimp, half hot & spicy (6 pieces each, a full order being 12 pieces). They give you extra hot sauce on the side upon request which I love because I'm such a fan of spicy food. The shrimp is on point, hot, fresh, and easy to peel every single time! The wait for your order at Giovanni's could take quite awhile as it's usually packed and there's always a line. This most recent visit I waited about 25 minutes for 4 orders. Any time I visit Hawaii I have to visit Giovanni's at least twice, and it's about an hour drive from Downtown Waikiki, where I stay. Overall I'd rather not eat on location, but the shrimp is worth the drive out every time.

    (5)

  • Edwin R.

    This review is for the lemon and butter shrimp. Made a special trip to this shrimp truck and waited almost 45 minutes. The shrimp tasted average and the lemon/butter sauce was underwhelming. The rice was severely undercooked and nearly not edible. What's the fuss? Next time I'll give it another try with the scampi or spicy plates. Parking is a mess and the dirt lot doesn't help. Limited seating, so expect to eat in your car. For me, the benefits did not outweigh the inconveniences.

    (2)

  • Sarah T.

    We went here twice on our honeymoon. The shrimp is cooked perfectly and so easy to peel! The first time was so much better than the second due to two main factors: 1) the hot & spicy version is so much better than the scampi 2) it was less crowded, which meant better seating and less flies/chickens The truck is located in a small parking lot next to other businesses. Unfortunately, the area is not properly maintained, which leads to flies everywhere. So unappetizing, to wait for your food and have flies around you nonstop. Giovanni's should consider moving the truck to a more open space.

    (4)

  • Nessa R.

    Hmmm...im not quite sure what the rave is about this particular garlic shrimp truck.. It was hard to find parking in the food truck plaza so we parked in a parking lot next door. when we spotted the food truck i could tell my friend and i were both thinking the same thing and he voiced it during our meal.."how are they abe to pass the health inspection?" Do they have inspections for food trucks? The look of the whole place wasn't all that appetizing and i guess that reflrcted on the food also. It was just overly garlicky and had a very one dimensional flavor...my friend advised me to add lemon to add more flavor and that made it a little better. He said his first few bites were food and then after he grew tired of the flavor which i pretty much agreed with. Probably will not be back at this particular spot. Its funny though cause when we went back to Waikiki we saw this food stand set up on waikiki beach and they claimed to have the best garlic shrimp. Kinda regretted not coming back to waikiki for lunch...

    (2)

  • MyTien P.

    I visited this place with high expectations since everyone in the Bay Area RAVES about this place. I was a little disappointed in the outcome and thought this place was way too hyped. Came here right when it opened and luckily there was no line. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi with the impression that this was going to be the best shrimp of my life, but the results weren't even close. I thought the flavor was just way too garlicy and the taste got really overwhelming after consuming my 5th piece of shrimp. I definitely had to devour a whole bottle of water to get through my meal. My boyfriend loved it though! Don't get me wrong. I definitely recommend giving this place a try if you're ever in Hawaii. It's worth the experience and they give really generous portions! Not sure if I would go back, but at least I can say I tried it. :)

    (3)

  • Margaret P.

    Great got the #1 it was amazing! Not sure why its at 4 stars. Should be 5

    (5)

  • Latifa S.

    Original white truck! ( better late than never?) Yummm Yummm. If you live on the island, you've been here at least a few dozen too many times. ANd if you are a tourist, you will be told to go here at all cost ....yea. Well this location is much better though because only a handful of tourists make it here. And there's limited amount of parking! Because you know, they have other trucks!! Giovanni Scampi~ garlic shrimp with tons of oil and garlic. My dad love this dish as well as most of my friends and people I know. For me: its always the same. I love the scampi. Careful when you go though. Sometimes the rice is under cooked. But it's way better than kahuku location! That place gets bombarded with huge crowds! Flavors~ The scampi ~ Yummm! Spicy shrimp ~ a little too sour. Lemon and butter shrimp- steamed shrimps with lemon and a cup of butter. Side of corn or rice if you order one plate, its just a waste of time because you will be waiting. And if you come all the way here, might as well wait :) Again, I don't mind it. I love the taste. Still don't like their spicy shrimp. Way too lemon-y for my taste. Not spicy, just sour. Overall, their scampi is good. I'll probably wait to have a bite of it. It's like a tradition. Family loves it. Friends love it. And if I'm on my own, I always come here for shorter lines and more consistent flavors.

    (4)

  • John F.

    Giovanni's shrimp truck is a Haleiwa must do. Tourists from far away have heard about the famous shrimp truck so I must always stop there to keep them happy. Fortunately, it's actually pretty darn good. $13 gets you a dozen nice sized shrimp, still in the shell, smothered with a garlic butter sauce. It also includes two scoops of rice with more garlic. No brown rice option available. Yes, it's definitely delicious but my complaint is their lack of restroom facilities. Of course, I understand that it is a shrimp truck but now there are about 6 different trucks so you would think that they would run some water and have some soap so we could wash up before eating. Drinks are limited to canned beverages with no cups and no ice but it's definitely a good experience. I ordered the normal shrimp plate but a friend order the spicy shrimp and it was really spicy. Too spicy for me but he liked it. The girls just ordered regular shrimp plate like me. As always, see my pictures.

    (3)

  • Linda C.

    I didn't get a chance to try other shrimp trucks during my trip, but Giovanni's was REALLY good. Parking can be hard, since the lot is pretty small, but people are frequently going in and out. I got their shrimp scampi--their most popular dish and LOVED it. The shrimp shells were easy to peel and the seasoning and flavors were just so delicious! Lots of sauce from the shrimp pours into the two scoops of rice, so it makes it hard to not clean the whole plate. Also got a side of macaroni salad, which was okay, I thought it was a bit bland, I guess I could have saved more stomach room for more shrimp. I'm glad I didn't share a plate because I had no problem finishing one all by myself. Also, don't forget this place is cash only!

    (5)

  • Bonnie Y.

    the most famous shrimp truck that everyone knows about Hawaii knows? it's ghetto, it's dirty, flies everywhere, but it's ridiculously good. the shells were all already cut so it doesn't require too much 'work' eating them. yes i was brave enough to get the hot and spicy ones and YUM i finished them all! LOVED LOVED it! only if it could be a 'little' cleaner... i was even scared of throwing my trash away cus the trash cans were surrounded by flies, and chickens!! oh well, i am dreaming about those shrimps now...

    (4)

  • Francis S.

    Me and my colleague came to giovanni with the raving reviews in mind from yelp. Most of the time (90%) the reviews are good representation of the flavor and the satisfactory service the business usually give. The other 10 percent its a huge disappointment. Unfortunately for this place its one of those 10 percent. Read more for info. Pros: 1. Alot of other food truck near them. 2. You can write on their truck? - if anyone enjoyd that- find me name- i dare you! Note: i am stretching with the pros (sorry) Cons: 1. First let me say the flavor was not something that "wows" you. If you go in this order. Mike huli huli- romys shrimp- then here. You will be hugely disappointed. 2. Their hotdog is nothing but hotdog. Please save your 3 dollars. Its so oily and theres not a single taste of shrimp on it. BUt what i did was put the shrimp they gave on the scampi and throw it in the bun with the hotdog. That salvaged the dog for me atleast. 3. The sales lady that day- june 3 was really rude. Iam a psych nurse and i can read peoples getures and small ticks. I would say that that out of the bat she was probably having a bad day or just not on the mood to do her job. Basically not friendly at all. 4. The price is kinda pricey for such a bland flavor. Not coming here again if ever i visit oahu again. Sorry.

    (1)

  • Val Y.

    I LOVE this food truck!!! The locals swear that when visiting Oahu, one cannot miss Giovanni's shrimp truck. This truck is located in the North Shore, which is pretty far from the tourist mecca of Waikiki. I gave it four stars because I would personally not travel from Waikiki to North Shore just to get their shrimp if I was a local. But it was pretty tasty!!! I ordered the shrimp scampi and boy was it tasty!!! I thought, hey, apparently I'm supposed to try this food truck, but, I just ate a little meal so I'm going to try this and take most of it to go, but it was so flavourful I finished it all. The shrimp was garlicky, a little spicy and delicious!! This place turned me into a shrimp lover, or a white shrimp lover specifically. I never even heard of white shrimp before this food truck. I've heard of tiger shrimp, but not white shrimp. Immediately upon my return from Hawaii, I purchased some white shrimp and I cannot wait to replicate their shrimp scampi! yums.

    (4)

  • Sarina A.

    Yes, the lines are long but the line moves fast. Today, I stayed in the car with my son and it only took 15 minutes to get our food. If you are in the North Shore and want shrimp, this is the place to be. Not all garlic shrimp is the same. Giovanni's garlic shrimp "shrimp scampi" taste so much fresher than places that claim to have better garlic shrimp. The hype here is real. $13 for a dozen of shrimp. I dont know why other reviews are complaining about the price because the mall and other places charge the same or more for less food.

    (5)

  • Cindy P.

    I used to love eating at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. It was my go-to place every time I'd head out to North Shore for the past 10+ Years. Butter smothered all over hot steaming rice and shrimp, topped off with crunchy pieces of chopped garlic. It was pretty busy today I got to say. I ordered 3 plates of Hot and Spicy shrimp, 2 Scampi Shrimps and a lemon butter shrimp plate for my group. When my number was called I was so eager to grab my plates and chow down. Then I took my first bite. I was so upset. Every plate we've ordered had shrimp that was overcooked to the point it was rubbery and incredibly difficult to chew. The spicy shrimp was unbearably spicy. My friend was sweating profusely and he'd only licked a side of a shrimp. My other friend started coughing (she was still coughing in the car when we left giovanni's). In addition my sister who has a very high tolerance with spicy food was tearing up and said it was too much to handle. We had two baby-sized scoops of rice on the side, which was an equivalent to ¾ of a regular scoop of rice. We all went for our tiny scoops of rice in attempt to dilute the unbearable heat we've just tasted. In the end we did not even touch the other two plates of hot and spicy shrimp. It's like they marinated it in ghost pepper extract for days, then drenched it in hot spices, cooked it in kimchee sauce, then poured Tabasco sauce over it. We disposed about 27 pieces of "this is what hell tastes like" shrimp. (What a waste) Now the lemon butter shrimp, boy it used to be covered in butter licking goodness with a hint of lightly squeezed lemon. Today I was served a plate of shrimp that was flash steamed in water served with a cup of melted butter on the side and a slice of lemon (Are you kidding me??) The same situation arose with the "butter" shrimp; overcooked and rubbery in consistency. Now the Scampi shrimp, I've noticed that the recipe changed and it has become bland in flavor although it still had a touch of garlic seasoning. Our group devoured the scampi because it was the only EDIBLE thing that they served us even though the shrimp was yet again, very hard and overcooked. In conclusion I decided to question a worker in the wagon. He told me the original owners of Giovanni's sold their company and moved to Korea. (Is this the reason why their food went from a deserving Michelin star to zero stars?). It's been a very long time, and I thought I'd never say this, but I will not return to Giovanni's.

    (1)

  • Nat W.

    So Giovanni's being one of the most famous garlic shrimp places on this island, I have decided to take my parents who were visiting from Japan. We ordered all the shrimp items; scampi, hot & spicy, and lemon & butter. I have tried several garlic shrimp places but I am not really impressed. Do not get me wrong....they are good but I have had better ones here in Oahu. My most favorite out of three was hot & spicy. Yes they are quite spicy but so addictive. Needs lots of drink tho. I definitely prefer Macky's better in Haleiwa, as their coconut shrimps are amazing and it is cleaner. The area Giovanni's truck is parked, there are way too many flies and I absolutely didn't enjoy eating with bunch of flies around me.

    (3)

  • Naein C.

    So good! I'm not a huge fan of shrimp but the shrimp scampi was so juicy and "garlicky!" The hot and spicy was good too. The hot and spicy wasn't really spicy for me but the other two that went with me said it was really spicy. An order of the shrimp comes with two scoop of rice. Mac salad was good too! Mmmmm.

    (5)

  • Loretta Z.

    O.M.G. This was amazing. I loved coming here because it made me feel like I was experiencing the real Hawaii. The truck is literally the most beaten down looking food truck I have ever seen. The place is swarming with flies attracted to all the shrimp shells. The line is long and the wait about 15 min. But if you can get past that exterior and the wait, you will get handed a plate of pure yummy garlic deliciousness to devour. It's nothing exotic. Just fresh shrimp sautéed in fresh garlic and oil. And it is simply scrumptious. Here are a couple of tips: 1.) take your cholesterol meds before coming 2.) ensure your friend/s.o. has a plate too to avoid any awkward garlic breath accusations 3.) eat in your car with the AC on to avoid the flies 4.) bring cash they do not take credit cards Absolutely worth the 2hr drive there and back from Waikiki!!

    (5)

  • Stephanie N.

    Went to Macky's a few steps down the street only to discover Giovanni's after.. Came here right when they opened, the day after we tried macky's. Got the classic #1. Portion is a little bit more than enough for one person. SOOO good... They are in a lot with several other food trucks as well. Comes with two scoops of rice which was just enough. I don't know how they do it, but it's so good. If you can take eating the shells, it's worth it to keep all the sauce flavors with the shrimp. Recommend trying if you can!!

    (5)

  • joanna h.

    It's good shrimp. Get the garlic and ask for the hot sauce on the side. The spicy shrimp alone just tastes like shrimp covered in hot sauce.

    (4)

  • Jenna T.

    Finally got to try this place after doing the shark tour. The food truck is located in a parking lot amongst other trucks. Although their truck isn't the cleanest, their food is outstanding. Rice was a little undercooked. We ate in our car because the smell of the garlic and sauce was attracting countless flies that weren't going to let us enjoy our food. We ordered two #1s (scampi) with extra garlic and a side of their mac salad. Everything was finger lickin' good! It almost made us go back for a second plate! Truck opens at 1030am and there are some people waiting in their cars until they do. 4 stars for the questionable cleanliness for their truck and they werent exactly prepared at 1030am but most definitely 5 stars for their food!

    (4)

  • Amy P.

    Ugh so good. Still dreaming of these shrimp and wish I could eat it every day. Very prompt service and personable people. There are several tables to sit at once your order is placed. The shrimp are huge and delicious and the sauce is extremely tasty. It's apparently a Hawaii staple and can't wait to visit and go back. A must try while on Oahu.

    (5)

  • Heidi D.

    Oh why can I not live near a food truck like this??? What else can I add to the reviews? Nothing. We ordered both the garlic shrimp and the lemon butter shrimp. Get the GARLIC/scampi option. So fresh. So tasty. So good! Dozen large shrimp + rice = $13 I did wonder about the other trucks so maybe next time in Oahu, I'll check them out as well. Maybe.

    (4)

  • Irene C.

    You must drop by the Giovanni shrimp truck while you are in north shore! Please be aware that the hot and spicy shrimps are really really spicy, no kidding, it is really spicy!!! I am glad that I got ice tea from another food truck earlier, otherwise I felt my throat was on fire!!! We arrived that day about 4:45pm and they were running out of rice, so I only got 1 scoop of smaller rice instead of 2, I think 1 scoop of rice is really not enough because the size of 1 scoop of rice is pretty small, so probably get there earlier before they are running out of rice! You can ask for marker to write or draw on the truck, though I feel it's not really a lot of space left.

    (4)

  • Franklin A.

    What is left to say about Giovanni's that hasn't been said by truckloads of other people. The only thing I'll say is that my wife and I have heard rumors that there are other places to eat. But we haven't found any because we always go to Giovanni's. Took my brother there during his last visit and he declared it to be food from the gods. And we're seriously thinking about spreading some of my dad's ashes there. He was a fan of Giovanni's too and this way we can visit him AND get some amazing garlic shrimp at the same time (in his honor of course!). Yeah, it's that good.

    (5)

  • Christie V.

    I personally don't agree with most of these reviews. Giovanni's is the iconic shrimp truck of north shore, but definitely not the best. It was pretty mediocre to me and something that I felt that I could make better at home. The shrimp itself were nice and plump, but the sauce just didn't scream "omg yes" to me. Tasted like it was missing something.... Just don't know what .... Maybe some more seasoning or some UMFF!!! I'd rather go to honos next door which barely has a line and gives you more shrimp for the same price you pay for. If you're a tourist visiting Hawaii I suggest going to a shrimp truck that isn't so popular and crowded

    (3)

  • Christina C.

    Located right off of the Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa, Giovanni's is undoubtedly the best garlic shrimp on the island! My family each ordered the shrimp scampi, and it was the best garlic shrimp out of the four times we had it on our vacation. The best portions by far - each plate comes with 12 shrimp and a perfect amount of sauce. It was heavier on the garlic, but not enough to be overpowering. My Uncle wasn't lying when he said I'd want another plate! Giovanni's is definitely a place to visit for to complete a Hawaiian vacation.

    (5)

  • Marybell G.

    Giovanni's was pretty good. Plates are served with one dozen jumbo shrimp and two scoops of rice. You will have to peel the shell off the shrimp (my only complaint). Giovanni's is situated in North Shore a quaint little town. They offer picnic style table seating. Cash only. The lemon butter chicken was great. I had a side of hot sauce which was pretty hot after the third bite. Your nose will run, but the sauce is so good. The Mac salad was a creamy and a nice recovery for my burning mouth after the hot sauce. Loved the location and shrimp was yummy.

    (4)

  • Jin Y.

    Hot and Spicy Shrimp is the best dish. It's one of the must visit places when I come to Oahu. It is extremely spicy so it's not for those who can't take the heat. If you order one, I recommend you either bring a jug of water or buy a 6 pack of sodas from the truck. My children order the Garlic Hot Dog which is actually pretty good. The Lemon Garlic Shrimp is okay, but it's too bitter. I've visited both locations on Oahu and both are great. The one in Halewia is in a bad location because of the limited parking. Additionally, if you don't like cleaning up after someone else or fighting the flies, this isn't for you. The food is definitely worth the visit though.

    (5)

  • Shirley C.

    This is the place to get your perfectly cooked shrimp. The shrimp is cooked to the right consistency. Not tough with a bit of bounciness when chewing. You can even eat it with the shell for that extra crunch. Also the flavor is most concentrated in the shell as well. Also to note is that the shrimp is a bit on the smaller size. They make up for it with extra punch of flavor. Even the rice is cooked to a great consistency. My favorite the butter and garlic flavor. And OMG do they put a lot of butter and garlic. The shrimp and the rice that comes with the plate are drenched in butter and garlic. So yummy. Beware of the hot and spicy flavor. The first piece is pretty good, but the more you eat, the more it'll make you cry. You can tell how spicy they are just by the fact that the shrimp is thick with flavor and they're really really red. Note: I do think it's a bit pricy for a food truck though with a few pieces of shrimp. But the flavors are really good for a splurge.

    (5)

  • Elena S.

    We were told this was a must have when we were in Oahu, so we stopped by. It was absolutely delicious. Got the spicy shrimp with rice and it was seriously some of the best shrimp i have ever had! VERY spicy, which was great. Fun atmosphere hanging out where the trucks were, this was the busiest one in the area. Great food!!!

    (5)

  • Tracy V.

    This isn't the original truck but their second location? I had the shrimp scampi and the lemon butter. I love the amount of garlic they put on the shrimp scampi! You can ask for hot sauce on the side instead of ordering the hot and spicy. The rice was mushy similar to Asian porridge (chao). I asked for garlic on my rice no extra charge. The mac salad wasn't memorable. Ask for extra lemon wedges. I saw a lot of people order the hotdogs but I didn't try it. The thing is that there are flies everywhereeeeee here. So it's difficult enjoying your meal without bugs bothering you.

    (3)

  • Alina K.

    We stopped after we read about this place. We had the scampi and they were tasty. The line was pretty long and we had to wait about 30 mins for our food. I think 13$ was a little bit too much for such a small plate but in the end, this is Hawaii....

    (4)

  • Alana A.

    We had a perfect experience when my bf and I and his dads came to visit. Food was great!! Plus we got to eat under a tree on a warm windy day:) The shrimp was so good, we're still craving for the Shrimp scampi!

    (4)

  • luke l.

    There not open only night time fix your yelp. I wanted to try but only open for dinner 5 to 9

    (1)

  • Tricia B.

    Be prepared for a long wait. I got the lemon butter shrimp which was okay. I normally don't go for macaroni salad but there's was delicious, not sweet like so many can be. My bf got the shrimp scampi and said it was the best shrimp he's ever had.

    (4)

  • Rianne D.

    Doing a lazy tour of the Kamehameha Hwy, a pit stop at Giovanni's was definitely needed to fend off my lunchtime hunger pangs. We got lucky finding parking. Most of it is dirt lot. Even if it was a weekday, the truck had a long line, most of the tables were filled and the wait for the food took for. ev. er! Probably about 30 minutes or so. But, I'm not gonna lie, the shrimp scampi that I ordered was so deliciously scrumptious! I'm still smacking my lips as I remember that lovely garlic butter taste. Lawdy. Now is it the best shrimp truck out there? I dunno. But, I'm gonna make it my mission to find out! Yum.

    (4)

  • Nathan C.

    The food is quite good, but on weekends (only time we've been) it is SLAMMED. 39 minute wait easy. The garlic shrimp is great as long as you like craploads of roasted garlic and butter. Yum. The spicy shrimp really isn't crazy spicy but it is tasty. The lime shrimp is probably the weakest of the three. No public restrooms here.

    (3)

  • Robin P.

    I have lived on the North Shore for 5 years and just TODAY I had my first garlic shrimp plate (Shrimp Scampi) and am so glad I did! If you're a garlic fan, this is the place for you. Every shrimp is swimming in garlic butter...YUM! Finger-licking good I say! Even the two scoops of rice had garlic on the top. Be prepared to have messy hands, but no worries. There is a sink behind the truck to wash up when you're done eating.

    (4)

  • Josef S.

    Man, that shrimp scampi was blasting with flavor. I'm still licking my fingers. There's a reason this truck is pretty popular.

    (5)

  • Brad P.

    I really don't see what all the fuss was about. A filthy truck, poor seating, a terribly sloppy, messy meal delivered on a paper plate and a plastic fork, with no way to clean up other than cross a very busy road to the McDonald's. The shrimp scampi was nothing special, bland, greasy, and over cooked. The rice was the only thing they got right, which isn't saying much. And did I mention a filthy truck? Not just the outside, which was bad, but the counter you order at looks like it hasn't been cleaned since it was screwed onto the truck. Do yourself a favor and skip this "must see" of Oahu.

    (1)

  • Craig S.

    Well it's gotta be five stars if we're going to make the drive out here just to eat a shrimp plate. We're splitting the shrimp scampi and lemon butter shrimp plates. ...okay we're done. I don't know if it's the ambiance of being outside and watching everybody lining up to order their shrimp but it was great! While you're there check out the smoothie from another truck, Okina cafe. Nice capper for this outdoor lunch.

    (5)

  • N N.

    Just made an account to post justice. All I can say is wow. The quality went down a lot the from the last few years ive visited. Not as jumbo and juicy as I remember as the lunch I paid for was absolutely dreadful to look at, especially after putting 13$ each for a paper plate of two scoops uncooked rice and some rank smelling old shrimp. Clearly shows minimal effort put into preparation and quality control. Im hoping this was just a one time mess up for the sake of the wagon because all the other reviews say otherwise. Im sorry, just never again.

    (1)

  • Jen S.

    Giovanni's had been my holy grail for garlic shrimp... But this last visit left me disappointed. We got there around 1:45 and there was no line... Perfect, I thought, we won't have to wait too long for the food to come out. Surprisingly, immediately after we ordered, they said the plates were ready. This seemed unusual to me, but we didn't question it since we were hungry and ready to eat. Unfortunately, the shrimp and rice tasted like they had been sitting in the truck for a while, giving us mushy rice and overcooked shrimp. The sauces at this location also didn't seem to taste as good as I've had in the past... Garlic seemed too oily with not enough garlic and spicy was not as spicy as they make it sound. I would have rather waited 15 minutes or however long it takes for them to make us a fresh plate. The shrimp also didn't taste as fresh as I've had at Giovanni's before and at other shrimp trucks. Hope this was just a one time bad experience because I love Giovanni's and usually rave about how great it is, but I guess we will see...

    (2)

  • Caligrrl G.

    Ordered the buffalo shrimp po boy. Easily one of the best things I ate on my Oahu trip! We're there right before it closed on a Th, so we didn't have to wait. Price was $13, but big enough to share.

    (5)

  • Jill K.

    Da best! Hands down! Their shrimp scampi is killer. It comes with 12 shrimp smothered in diced garlic and butter and 2 scoops rice. I always get mac salad on the side, which I think should come with the plate, but no big deal. I truly can't get enough of this shrimp truck. They have two locations, and I've eaten at both. I think the Haleiwa location is better, personally. It's in a little cove with a few other shrimp trucks, tucked away amongst the lush rainforest. It's the perfect ambiance for the most delicious island plate lunch. Don't forget to get their hot sauce on the side. Get it!

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    The service is unusually slow today. It may be better to keep driving and try the Kahuku Shrimp Truck!

    (3)

  • Andrew P.

    best shrimp scampi i've had. served up hawaiian style with 2 scoops of rice. at $13 a plate they give you a generous portion of a dozen shrimp. all the way up on the north shore but worth the drive. i would go back for sure!

    (5)

  • Tony K.

    The shrimp scampi was absolutely delicious! That full bodied sauce with what seemed like a whole bulb of garlic... I need the recipe. I also tried the hot and spicy option which, even though I'm an avid fan of the heat, was almost unbearable. They've out done themselves!

    (4)

  • Tiff C.

    Too amazing.. went 3 months ago and I'm still drooling over the picture that I took before gobbling down the massive buttery garlic flavored shrimp. We had a bit of a hard time finding it since the truck + other trucks are parked down in a little ditch thing.. you have to drive down into a spot and they are located there. It was really close to the pier where we went shark diving. We ordered two plates and two different flavors to try. Scampi and lemon/butter. I would recommend the scampi, sooooo yummy.. garlic and butter, how can you go wrong?! Comes with two scoops of rice and don't forget to get some hot sauce on the side. It's pretty hot but tastes so good. The lemon butter was okay... I ended up trying to put some garlic that fell off onto my plate onto the shrimp.. the lemon butter kind of had a different taste that I didn't really enjoy. We tried eating outside but omg those flies are everywhere and want you delicious shrimp! So we ended up eating inside the car... it was a rental anyways so who cares hah. Yum.. can't wait to go back one day and eat more! and next time two shrimp scampi's please!

    (5)

  • K C.

    Kinda long wait but well worth it! Shrimp delicious and big, Mac salad tasty too, only thing is it's cash only, need to change that;)

    (5)

  • Jessica B.

    Really good shrimp. They have 3 different options of shrimp plates. We got the shrimp scampi and the hot & spicy (which is very hot!!). I gave it 3 stars because of the price. It is $13 for a scoop of rice and 12 shrimp which is a little much considering it's an old truck that they serve out of

    (3)

  • GINA A.

    For all the years that I have been traveling to Hawaii, I always make it a must to eat at Giovannis. The shrimp scampi is so good! If you love spicyness, get the hot & spicy. You won't be disappointed. I also love the fruit stands and the kahuku corn on the cob stand.

    (5)

  • Isabella B.

    Heart-clogging good and if you're a foodie, THE reason to stop by Haleiwa. The area itself is surrounded by other food trucks, you'll notice the truck as "Giovanni's Famous Shrimp" and the truck itself has PLENTY of graffiti done by people leaving their mark in Sharpie. For $13, you'll get 12 shrimp soaked in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic and lemon butter and two scoops of rice also drizzled with garlic and lemon butter. You also can get the hot sauce on the side. Shrimps were plump and fresh and very rich from all that fat it was cooked in. The downsides are that this isn't a dish to eat often and that there are flies that just ravage around the shrimps and the surrounding trash area. If I were back in Oahu I would definitely trek back to Haleiwa just for this. However, since I'm from SD, CA I'll just settle for trying to recreate this dish at home. Shouldn't be that hard. UPDATE: I tried the #2 (Hot and Spicy) a week later. It was so hot and spicy that I finished a bottle and a half of water and only was able to finish half the shrimps. Disheartening since I usually like spicy food. Still keeping the original rating, as the shrimp scampi plate is one of the best dishes I've ever eaten.

    (5)

  • Jay M.

    My wife and I arrived here for the first time back in April 2015. We ordered the shrimp scampi, butter lemon shrimp, and hot and spicy crazy shrimp. All three were amazing and well worth the trip. The place was wonderful to say the least. It's surrounded by large beautiful trees, lots of parking and seating areas and other small mobile businesses. When we got there it wasn't too busy, in fact we were second in line. After ordering our meals it was packed within a blink of an eye. My favorite was the shrimp scampi, it was packed with garlic flavor and it was....WOW!...lol my kids were killing it so I had to order another one. I had a chance to say hello to the lovely lady cooking the meal, I was curious who was the master chef cooking these meals and putting it out so quickly. Great place, have to try when visiting this beautiful island where I'm originally from. I will definitely come back here. five stars all the way...

    (5)

  • RONALD W.

    A true classic and definitely the most garlicy of the shrimp trucks I tried. The hot sauce is scorching, so I had it on the side rather than having the shrimp cooked in it. I do think the trucks by the ponds have tastier shrimp, but Giovanni's is a must visit in the North Shore.

    (4)

  • Janine D.

    i was curious about the hype of this place but only got disappointed when i was finally able to try their food. the shrimp was bland and overpriced. also, the customer service is not good...the server was very rude. i wouldnt recommend this place to others.

    (1)

  • Chaianna R.

    I unfortunately had the experience of ordering the hot&spicy shrimp and later tears were falling from my eyes. Quite possibly the spiciest thing I ever had. If you enjoy very spicy food I suggest this option. However I did try the shrimp scampi which was very delicious! So I would suggest to order the scampi if it's your first time.

    (4)

  • Jeff G.

    Wife said it was the "best garlic shrimp" she'd ever had - and boy has she eaten a ton of shrimp.

    (5)

  • Thuy L.

    This review was for my Honeymoon visit back in June 2013. Believe the hype for this place! I loved it! I was really glad for all the reviews for this place on Yelp and lots of my friends suggesting this place as a MUST GO TO when you are in Hawaii. We need ones of these here in So Cal! Don't get thrown off by the ghetto truck with all the writings on it. Food comes out pretty quickly, fresh and delicious! I loved how the shrimp was perfectly cooked and came with lots of garlic!! I love Shrimp so this was my favorite. Sometimes I wish I can just fly to Hawaii, get some Giovanni's and Matsumoto shaved ice and go home. LOL The workers were very friendly and you can place half orders too! That is perfect for me because we spent the whole day eating a bunch of different places and my husband doesn't eat shrimp so I wouldn't get full from eating at one place. There are lots of tables to eat at and someone making sure all the tables are clean. Restroom is behind their main building in the back. It was decently clean and not bad. Also the day I went, we were lucky that the lines weren't super long so I only waited about 10 minutes in line.

    (5)

  • Lorraine P.

    Is THIS what all the food truck rage is about in Hawaii?? I didn't realize North Shore was so deprived. You can find the shrimp truck off the side of Kamehameha Highway. And by truck, I mean a rundown van that's covered in graffiti. That should have been a red flag, but we'd come all this way and weren't turning back. I decided to accept the hot and spicy "no refunds" shrimp ($13) challenge (and I totally prevailed BTW.) It was pretty terrible. The problem is not the spiciness though ... it's the taste! Imagine drinking an entire bottle of Tabasco Sauce... Straight vinegar and shrimp just isn't my thang. Neither is a bleeding esophagus. The Scampi ($13) is definitely the lesser of the 2 evils. It has the traditional 1980's flavor combo of lemon butter and garlic. Their shrimp are plump and juicy, and all orders are served over a bed of white rice. Surprisingly, our favorite item on the menu was the garlic hot dog. Yup, from a freakin' shrimp van! Super random, but really good! So should you make the pilgrimage for shrimp alone? Probably not. Hot dogs... maybe.

    (3)

  • Mark M.

    This has got to be one of the best shrimp spots around the area! The shrimp scampi is a must! The garlic with the butter is just too good. The hot and spicy one is pretty good as well. Its a bit spicy but not too much. If its too spicy just wash it down with their passion orange drink and it'll make it much better. Gotta love Giovanni's!!

    (4)

  • Christine G.

    AH-MAZE-BALLS. Might be the best shrimp I have ever had in my entire life. So fresh and full of flavor and that GARLIC SAUCE with rice????? It is so much butter and garlic but ohhh so gooood. Then with some hot sauce? Damn. I need to move to Hawaii ASAP just to eat here whenever I want. HAHA

    (5)

  • David G.

    This is as good as all the reviews say it is. Beware of where your phone might tell you about this trucks location. If your headed to north shore, you can't kiss the huge sign and crowd of people. I had the garlic butter shrimp and the garlic hot dog. AMAZING. I'm now forced to come back when I visit the island again.

    (4)

  • Cynth S.

    I decided to try the hot and spicy shrimp here since everyone was raving about Giovanni's being better than Mackys shrimp truck. On the sign at Giovanni's it says the hot and spicy shrimp plate says "no refunds." I brushed it off and said whatever I'll still order the plate. When I picked up the plate it instantly smelled like the worst kind of hot sauce that burns the insides of your nostrils. I took a bite and yup it's even worse than the smell. Please please be warned that the hot and spicy shrimp plate is pure Tabasco sauce heated up with God only knows what else. It wasn't edible. Paid $13 and their I was hungry and then feeling bummed because I had just realized why the sign says no refunds. They should just take the hot and spicy shrimp plate off the menu and do everyone a favor. Very displeased.

    (1)

  • J S.

    This is worth trying, but thought it would be better... Pros: - spicy shrimp is delicious and very spicy! :) - friendly staff - garlic shrimp was pretty good Cons: - parking is hard - lots of flies - shrimp wasn't easy to peel or to eat the shell

    (4)

  • CacaPooPo O.

    So very good. Lots of garlic and sauce over rice. Definitely worth the wait. Will return next time I'm in the area.

    (5)

  • Sean W.

    Absolutely the most overrated place I went to during my week on Oahu. Shrimp tasted frozen from Costco , please don't bother to go out of your way for this tasteless shrimp. I'm from Vegas and I know what good shrimp is like. This place is a total waste of time and way overpriced

    (2)

  • Paul C.

    As I have been taking friends around the island when they come to visit Oahu, I try to stop at different shrimp trucks and Giovanni's is GOOD. I was pleased to find a large group of people standing around the truck to either order or wait until their number is called. Very promising if you ask me. I've read Yelp review prior to this posting so I had high expectations. As we were ordering we were advised an approximate 30 min wait. For good food, waiting 30 min is NOT an issue for me with prior notice. I had the regular garlic shrimp plate and was happy this joint provided a lemon wedge. The shrimps were cooked perfectly and thought they were yummy! However, as humans we know that food and taste are subjective but my heart goes to Romy's when it comes to garlic shrimp. Giovanni's has headless shrimps and Romy's plate comes with the head attached. For me, I like the goodness in the shrimp heads and when going to Romy's the DOUBLE GARLIC is a MUST.

    (4)

  • NinJas A.

    If you love garlic then this is a place for you.. Tried a few trucks in north shore and this one by far gives you the most garlic. The spicy shrimp is a good option but it does have heat and recommend ordering something to cool it off..

    (4)

  • Evelyn C.

    I wanted to see what all the hype was all about so I decided to stop by I ordered the lemon butter shrimp the lady was extremely rude to me and was coughing all over the place without covering her mouth so I got really grossed out but we had already paid. When the order was done she literally threw it in my hands...so I sat down and started eating first thing I noticed was the rice was cold like it had been sitting for a while I started eating the shrimp and I understand that cooking with the shell on gives it more flavor but it was honestly so BLAND like if I'm going to have to work for my shrimp I want it to taste amazing under the shell but it was the blandest shrimp I have ever had I poured the butter all over it and even the butter was bland so overall my meal was cold and bland and gross. My husband ordered the spicy one and he didn't like it at all either we don't understand why the line is always so long. We now go to Zanes every time we are in the area the lady is the absolute sweetest and their shrimp is so amazing!! I'm craving it now! I really recommend they are two trucks down from Giovanni's

    (1)

  • Gaylynn C.

    Went to get some shrimp today as we always do whenever we are in the area. I am soooo disappointed with them. Got our plates and for $13 it looked small. Other times the same but I never thought to count my shrimp. Well, sure enough I only had 9 out of 12. WHAT? I can understand missing 1 but missing 3? I got the impression that this happens often and that it was intentional. When I walked up to the counter and questioned if we should have 12 per plate the girl quickly asked how much do you have like she already knew. The workers there also seemed very agitated and not friendly at all. We waited in line for 45 mins, this place gets crazy business and they cheat their customers? Hands down they got the best shrimp but I'd rather give my business to another business of integrity. All I can say is COUNT YOUR SHRIMP! Because this wasn't a mistake.

    (1)

  • Anela A.

    The line here is usually really long and the wait to get your food can also take a while. For $13 you get a dozen shrimp smothered in either garlic scampi, lemon butter or a spicy sauce. The spicy shrimp plate is extremely hot. Not for the timid! And they will not give u a refund if u no can handle. The shrimps are cleaned but come with the shell on. I recommend biting the shrimp with shell on so you get all the sauce and flavor- or you can spit the shells out- but don't automatically de-shell because that is where all the flavor is. A great addition is the sink in the back so that you can wash your shrimpy hands after you are done eating.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    The best shrimp scampi on the North Shore! The garlic rice is unique and not to be missed as well. Look for the little turnout in the road with four or five trucks parked. We tried shrimp from three different trucks and Giovanni's was a winner!

    (5)

  • mong linh n.

    I've heard so many great raves about this place. i was told that this was a must when in HI. to be honest, i was not a bit blown away by Giovanni's. i have to say that i tried Macky's litterally mins before coming here. i wanted to try to shrimp trucks to have a good comparison. =P be prepared for a long line. popular places mean longggg lines. so, you can do half orders here. we had the spicy and the shrimp scampi. the flavors were all not there. it was totally overrated! the shrimps were totally smaller than macky's, but they do give you more shrimp pieces. so, i guess that makes up for that part. i really think this place is overrated.

    (3)

  • Elim N.

    BUTTERY GARLIC YUMMM!!!! Giovanni's is Hawaii's #1 shrimp truck! They are the original white truck with the best shrimp scampi plate for $13. The plate comes with 13 pieces of shrimp and two scoops of white rice with buttery garlic all over! The Kahuku location is the original and always pack with lots of people. Luckily the expansion of tables can accommodate for more people. Expect a long drive to stand in long lines for a long wait but be sure that this is well worth everything! The new location in Haleiwa is much smaller but is also less busy. Because this location was less busy, it seemed that a lot of the plates were prepared ahead of time so it wasn't made to order. No other truck compares. Stick with the best!

    (5)

  • Gabrielle L.

    Absolutely best place to eat shrimp...my husband and I celebrated our anniversary here and wrote our names on the truck great experience!!!

    (5)

  • Johnny G.

    this is a garlic explosion in your mouth!! you better be ready. After all the hype from my friends in the bay area they told me this is the place I HAD to go do. and they were totally RIGHT! I ordered the shrimp scampi. The fried garlic mixed with the fresh garlic and scampi sauce over rice coudl have better a BOMB meal on its own. Then you add the shrimp and its just flavor overload! By the end of the carnage you are just left with shrimp tails and shells thinking to yourself WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? Giovanni's definitely delivers and I will stop here next time again in Oahu!

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    Delicious, loved the shrimp scampi!

    (5)

  • Derek W.

    Since we were diving near the Waianae harbor, we decided to head to Haleiwa location so that we didn't have to travel to the OG site. Rolled up onto a dirt lot where there were other food trucks and quickly spotted Giovanni's truck. The new location reminded me of what the OG location used to offer, good food and hella flies. Not sure what they did to ward off all the bugs at the new loation but I can say the Kahuku but it's worth the extra 15 min drive. Also, the new location has fewer benches to sit at and does not offer the free drink when checking into Yelp. Food tastes similar and people are still just as friendly here.

    (3)

  • Becca H.

    Definitely get the shrimp scampi or the garlic dogs. Food was delicious, but eating at the shrimp truck almost made me lose my appetite. There were garbage bags all over the ground and flies everywhere! My suggestion is take it to-go and eat somewhere sanitary so you can really enjoy the good food

    (3)

  • Monica A.

    My, oh my! I loved the garlic shrimp. It was buttery, garlicky, and cooked perfectly. We got here right before they opened on a weekday and there were already people waiting so get here early or be patient. We shared the garlic shrimp plate and the garlic hot dog and it was enough food to keep us full for a couple hours. I was too chicken to try the spicy shrimp but really wanted to since the garlic shrimp was so good. If garlic gives you issues...I recommend taking a Pepcid and give his place a try. Delicious!

    (5)

  • Rick F.

    I was very surprised! Heard much about the Shrimp Trucks and the NorthShore. I had very low expectations! Excellent, simply excellent! I loved it! I can still taste the garlic! These trucks aren't much to look at, in fact, looking at them would make you want to run away! 12 good sized shrimp and garlic rice. Brush your teeth and then brush them again. Then mouthwash twice LOL! Yes its an easy dish to make, but the nostalgia made all that much better!

    (5)

  • Heidi K.

    Hmm... With all the hype, I thought I was going to be really wow-ed by this place. The truck is charming and cute with all the scribbling all over it, and I actually got my shrimp right after I ordered it (so not too much of a wait). The shrimp scampi, however, was good but just okay for me. I feel like it was something I could've easily made at home, and I honestly think my dad's shrimp scampi tastes just as good if not better than this. (And I don't have to peel my own and get my fingers all gross! Haha.) The mac salad was also okay-- Definitely worth a try if you wanna try the famous shrimp truck, but I feel like it doesn't really match the hype. It's also pretty expensive for what it is....

    (3)

  • Layla L.

    Never ate anything like it two thumbs up! Just wish they had a restraint closer to home

    (4)

  • Wendy C.

    Much better than Macky's shrimp truck. The location is tucked back into this shrubby area off the side of the road on the way to North Shore so if you don't look for Giovanni's you might miss it like me. But just look for the pack of trucks together in some shrubbery and it is one of those trucks. Eating roadside can get a little messy, especially with the wind blowing all sorts of dust and leaves and bugs into your food, but I guess that is part of the appeal of eating outside? lol. I ordered the scampi and the spicy, and I would definitely recommend the scampi. Especially if you can't handle spicy, as Giovanni spicy is pretty hot. As a non-native, I wish the shrimp was peeled already, as I don't understand why you would flavor the outside.. when you are just going to peel all of that away anyways. Can someone explain to me the reasoning behind that?? Not the easiest thing to eat!

    (4)

  • Jess K.

    We tried the spicy shrimp and shrimp scampi. (both cost $13.00 for a plate of shrimp with rice) Personally I didn't like the spicy shrimp flavor. The shrimp was spicy but the flavor was a but too tangy for me. The shrimp scampi is off the hook! A must try for garlic shrimp lovers!

    (4)

  • Trish I.

    We came here on a Sunday afternoon and there were no lines! Yay! I didn't realize they do half orders, but then again, we love us some shrimp so the regular plate was perfect. Food came out pretty quick, like it was already made before we even ordered it. If you like your shrimp big and loaded with lots of garlic, then you'll love the shrimp scampi here.

    (4)

  • Chelsea L.

    It was good, but the shrimp were a little cold and the line was hella long. There are a lot of other food trucks in the area, would like to see if anybody can recommend one that has similar products but not such a long line.

    (4)

  • Ken C.

    When I finally found this place, I flashed back to when I was visiting family in the provinces of the Philippines. I felt like I was in the countryside. The truck, tattered and decorated in graffiti, sits in an unpaved field overlooking a vast collection of trees. In the distance, I could hear a rooster crowing. I now knew that I wasn't on the mainland anymore. People tell me that Giovanni's is overrated. But that's partly because people hype it up as a "must see" attraction. The experience is what it is. It's good food served from a place you wouldn't expect good food to come from. I got the shrimp scampi. It costed $13 and came with 2 scoops of rice, a lemon wedge, and about a dozen jumbo shrimp. If you're not that hungry, you could get a half order for half the price. The shrimp were covered in lots and lots of garlic and butter. If garlic is good for your heart....then I know that this dish will make my heart go on. Even longer than Celine Dion, maybe. Don't have ridiculous expectations for this place. If you're craving garlicky shrimp and rice and, if you happen to be in north shore for shaved ice or sea turtle watching, then this is a solid place to consider. I am a fan, because I left knowing that I had a great lunch and a good story to tell. That's all that one could hope for!

    (4)

  • Jennifer G.

    Locals suggested we check this place out. Great garlic flavor on the garlic shrimp scampi, super quick service for such a busy place, fun experience.

    (4)

  • Kerry K.

    Shrimp were not fresh from here, and cashier was not friendly. For the same price, enjoy Hono's next door. You won't be sorry!!

    (2)

  • Cheryl I.

    I always been told to go to the shore for great shrimp from giovannis over and over and FINALLY after so many years I made it to Giovanni's shrimp truck for the first time. I really liked how there was other shrimp trucks along the side b4 you get to Giovanni's and uncle Woody's corn. The place was packed with so many locals and tourist kinda felt like I was on a different island. Anyways my first shrimp plate was the bomb.com they put butter garlic on the rice and all over the shrimp it was kinda too much garlic but I loved it!! And I would totally go back.

    (5)

  • Darcy H.

    Honestly I think Mackys is better. I got the hot and spicy shrimp and it was okay. I know that it says that it is hot but it was almost too hot to enjoy- and I love spicy food. The Mac salad was just average. I'm not saying that I wouldn't come back but I do think that they didn't live up to their name.

    (3)

  • Mel B.

    Short and simple: Shrimp scampi is delicious. This is what everybody and their mamas was ordering, except my mama. She ordered the lemon butter shrimp and it was BORING. Once you tried the shrimp scampi, you don't ever wanna go back! Garlic hot dog wasn't worth it. Don't order that. I just wished there weren't so many freakin' flies trying to attack my food. Will definitely return when I go surfing in North Shore again.

    (4)

  • HonestOpino N.

    Before I type anything else, please visit the Filipino Lady who serves the best Turon ever! She is located at the end next to the bathroom stalls. For people not knowing what Turon is, it is a desert/snack banana that is wrapped in rice wrap and deep fried and caramelized to perfecting. Think of it as a Banana Lumpia, yes it may sound weird but its good! I had a little chat with her and she only sells them for a dollar. She makes a hard living and its sad that no one notices this poor lady at the back. The Update: Came back for an update after revisiting this place on another vacation to Hawaii. I wanted to confirm the hype once more, and maybe I was just caught up in the hype but the shrimp wasnt as fresh this time. It didnt give you the nice snap like it did and the flavor was a little bland. I ordered the scampi and the spicey platter. There wasnt nothing spicy about their platter, just very sour! I had to put that aside. Probably my last visit.

    (2)

  • Phonesavanh R.

    this is the shrimp truck everybody's talking about . I finally made it there and ordered the shrimp scampi . I didn't see what the big fuss was about. It was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Although the truck looked pretty cool.

    (3)

  • Yvonne H.

    Super garlicky and super yummy! Shrimp is still in the shell so get ready to get messy!

    (5)

  • Liana E.

    The manager Jorge contacted me regarding my 1st review and apologized for my "bad"experience. I appreciate that a lot, but I honestly didn't have a bad experience at all. I'm just picky and I don't like to wait. I have to edit my review and remember to include the positive points as well. I have to give 5 stars to their management for reaching out to me and for the willingness to improve their business. Mahalo! For me, I don't like too much butter and garlic on my shrimp, i'm weird. My boyfriend loves it! The shrimp wasn't horrible it was good, the spicy shrimp was awesome. It is hot though, so beware. The wait was longer than I like, but wasn't that long compared to the amount of customers they have. Way faster than Romys! The area was clean and inviting. I will return.

    (5)

  • Carly H.

    6.17.13. Giovanni's is always a MUST whenever I drive out to the NS...which is almost never, so it's a nice treat! You have three YUMMY choices: 1) Butter & Lemon, 2) Garlic and 3) Spicy! Also your choice of half (6 shrimp) or full (12 shrimp); full plate all the way! ;) P.S. you can ask for spicy sauce on the side, no extra charge; super spicy!! Be prepared with cash! The full plate is a whopping ~$13?! ...but trust me it's worth it! I think they open at 10:30 am...we got there right on time but they told us at 10:30 that they needed 30-40 min to prep -_- minus points! Better to come early and wait it out though because parking can get tight and/or the wait can be long! Yelp 365 Challenge: #167/365

    (4)

  • Jasmine C.

    Everyone told me I had to make a stop at Giovanni's in Hawaii, especially when visiting North Shore. So... Touristing away did we, and stopped by Giovanni's indeed. Off Kamehameha Hwy it stood A shrimp truck in the North Shore hood. Smells of garlic and butter a-plenty Atop your succulent shrimp scampi Fork over the cash--thirteen a plate, And take it to-go, or be mosquito bait. So away we went with our two plates... regular shrimp scampi and one hot and spicy. The shrimp scampi was good...delicious, garlicky, buttery...but I couldn't help wondering...how was this any different from Boiling Crab?! I think I actually liked my Boiling Crab with the whole shebang just as much if not better! And for a pound of shrimp, I'd only pay $8.99! Plus I'd get corn......haha. The hot and spicy was really just that. Hot and really spicy until you can't taste shrimp or rice. I'd recommend getting the regular shrimp scampi if you want to savor any of the flavors or shrimp. :) Nice try Giovanni's. It was good, but...nothing I'd die to go to Hawaii for!

    (3)

  • Bosco Y.

    Scampi was okay. Didn't like the Hot and Spicy. Lemon and butter shrimp was okay. I prefer Dat Cajun Guy

    (3)

  • Sam R.

    Take alll other shrimp establishments, roll it up in a ball and toss it to the side. Thats the exact feeling I received when I ate at this location. From the human eye you would never think before trying the food that it would actually be that great. Right off the first bite you know that every bite after that first one will be as great as the last. It's like a fairy tale while eating, cause you'll be sad when the story ends. But to full to start another story when you finish the first one. The price was average compared to other locations around the island. If you find a place with better prices your most likely compensating the taste, which you wouldn't want to do for two reasons. 1) its seafood and you never want bad seafood. And 2) most importantly your in Hawaii, your trip should always be complimented with great food when your here. Highly suggested that you go here when you get the chance, taste it for yourself and ever check the photo I posted to show you what you get. Aloha!

    (5)

  • Lowana L.

    I've been going to Giovanni's since I was a little kid, and things haven't really changed, well except for the price going up a dollar. But I still love that garlicky, buttery goodness. I still get the same thing I've always gotten, number 1 shrimp scampi with extra garlic on the rice and extra lemon! I love it, it's so yummy! The star that is taken away is for the rice, ohhh the rice. After all these years, they still can't get rice right. It's been getting better, but if I'm gonna pay another dollar for the same dish I've been having for years, I'd at least like the whole dish to be perfect. I'll be back soon!

    (4)

  • Suz E.

    This place is an institution on the North Shore of Hawaii and was killin' the food truck thing long before it was trendy. Sure there are other shrimp trucks in this little dirt lot but this is the only one you need to know about and it never disappoints. Put it on your bucket list and make sure to pay a little extra and get the mac salad. Warning.. you will have lots of flies for company and it always helps to bring handy wipes to clean your table. But if you are a true foodie you'll be in garlic shrimp heaven!

    (5)

  • Cathy T.

    Once you have Giovanni, you never go back. Lol. I have tried other shrimp trucks and shrimp stands but this is by far my favorite " go to" for shrimp scampi. I had tried the hot n spicy n lemon butter but it wasn't too satisfying for my taste buds. The scampi is fully loaded with lots of butter, garlic n oil. Perhaps not good for the heart n gut but sure is worth it. Lol. You get approximately a dozen shrimp w two scoops of rice. Sorry, no potatoes or linguine noodles to substitute with. If you are a spicy eater, ask them for the hot sauce. The line is super long but it's because they actually hand u the order right then n there. That's ok though because I got to meet some really interesting people. Hahaha. My scampi crave is fulfilled for now...See u next week? Lol. Enjoy everyone!

    (5)

  • Laura B.

    Update: Giovanni's representative responded promptly to my previous review, with a promise to look into the reason my shrimp meal was overcooked. Doesn't change my eating experience (we are now on another island and can't visit again), but I am encouraged by their professionalism and optimistic that someone will be correcting the problem, for those considering visiting their truck.

    (3)

  • Jenelyn O.

    My best meal in Hawaii! Had the garlic shrimp which was supposedly the most popular! Loved it better than Macky's! My husband and mother-in-law had the lemon pepper shrimp, which they liked too. But the garlic shrimp was awesome! You get more shrimp here than at Macky's, and the price was cheaper. Another great thing is that its location...after eating, we shopped at the local merchants and the kids loved having the shaved ice from the shaved ice truck nearby (even better than Matsumoto's and bigger)! When you're in the North Shore, you gotta eat here!

    (5)

  • Ed L.

    Shrimp! Scampi! Eating fresh shrimp right off Hawaiian waters is becoming a favorite touristy thing to do if you are up in Kahuku or in Haleiwa. Whether you are a local or a tourist alike, eating here at Giovanni's or any of the other 2 shrimp trucks along Kamehameha Highway's windswept roads is a testament to what people will do for good seafood. I myself have already done Fumi's before and looked forward to try Giovanni's and Mackey's, which all claim to be the best ever. While my experience at Fumi's was pretty good, I wanted to try out Giovanni's just for a well rounded experience. I did just that when I got a take out plate for an early dinner on my way back to downtown Honolulu for the Kakaako Water Front Park New Years Eve celebration. It was here that I got lunch from the neighboring food truck operated by Dat Cajun Guy, which I assumed was somewhere else in Haleiwa. Surprise surprise, but I am glad they were both in the vicinity and didn't have to go far to get good quality shrimp. Giovanni's, like most food trucks, is popular with locals and tourists alike, but it's definitely a trip to get out up here to Haleiwa. For what its worth, definitely come up here for the sun and surf, good eats, and the enjoyment of being in Hawaii for a good time. This shrimp truck is located across the street from the Haleiwa McDonald's in a big parking lot, where several other food trucks do business along Kamehameha Highway - along with Dat Cajun Guy. I picked up a late takeout plate since I had eaten lunch at Dat Cajun Guy already and wanted something for the road later that day. Celebrating New Years Eve 2013 was going to be epic and I needed some sustainable food choices to last me through the early going of partying. There are limited parking options are, but when the traffic is bad, its bad. Only one main road in and out of Haleiwa, almost like Hanalei on Kauai. Best bet is to scout the area before you go. Maybe park at one of the shopping centers and walk. Giovanni's does have limited parking spaces available, but if you are like me, bus routes #55 and #52 hit up Haleiwa from downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana Center, so worth it if you don't want to spend a lot of gas commuting. The down side is that it can take up to 2 hours on 1 trip. There were plenty of Japanese tourists that were eating at the picnic tables that fronted Giovanni's shrimp truck that day. The truck itself was delicately scribbled with a lot of intricate graffiti that stemmed from years of patrons coming through Haleiwa for a good shrimp plate. Each plate of shrimp comes with its own unique flavor and combination and I was more or less a newbie on this matter. I love shrimp, but there is a fine art to it, I'm guessing. After 5 minutes of decision making, I decided on getting the coconut shrimp and allowed my taste buds to be totally subjected to the culinary onslaught that was deliciousness. It was in fact pretty darn tasty. Too bad that they don't shell out the shrimp before they cook them. I guess that's all part of the fun of eating shrimp. No matter though. It came with a scoop of white rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The white rice was smooth and not dry, so that was nice. The macaroni salad was also good and not too greasy and left an aftertaste in your mouth. I would say that Giovanni's is a hidden gem for those who seek it out for it has to offer. Comparing to the other shrimp trucks in the area, my hat has to go with Giovanni's for the moment, since they provided good service, even if it was crowded with diners and tourists alike. Like most people, go to Matsumoto's for your dessert, since they are famous for their shaved ice. Giovanni's is great for your money, although it can be pricey, but it can be worth it for perfectly cooked shrimp. I might have to come back here sometime in 2014 to get more of this! The service was good and patient. They sometimes can be a little impatient, depending on the line, but they're cool about it most times while you're deciding. All in all, definitely worth your fantasy to come up here to Haleiwa and indulge. You're worth it. Recommended for you seafood lovers and those of you who want a good meal at an affordable price. While not cheap, you get what you pay for. Cash only! Support local! B+

    (4)

  • Heather J.

    Loved these shrimp! Parking was a little rough, because the place was clearly popular. If I hadn't been given a heads up by a friend, I'm not sure I would have known to pick this truck out of all the others, but I'm glad I did. $13 for 12 luscious juicy shrimp drowning in garlic butter (with huge chunks of garlic. Vampires beware), all served over two scoops of rice. And the rice was also sooo good! Rice? Yes. (Could have been the drowning in garlic butter thing). My bf got a side (complimentary) of hot sauce and said it was "bomb". Eat here, leave happy.

    (5)

  • Ron R.

    Yes, I'm a definite fan and always think about this place every time I order or buy shrimp... Ok, well maybe not all the time, but this place did leave a lasting impression. I was told that if you go to Honolulu, you must find Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Matsumoto's, or find Huli-huli Chicken if you are ever driving around. So doing the touristy thing of going to Dole and checking out North Shore, we eventually found Giovanni's and had to pull over. Twelve Large Shrimp Scampi with rice. It was about $12, but really worth it because of the flavor and size of the shrimp. Bathed in garlicy sauce, it's something a garlic-lover will truly enjoy. Not the loveliest place on the island, but a good hang out spot.

    (4)

  • Marc B.

    Giovannis has been my favorite shrimp truck for as long as I can remember until today. I found a piece of cockroach leg in my plate. Who's know where the rest of the body had gone to, and most likely into other peoples plates ordered during that time. I'm usually a nice person when something is wrong with my food. I will either ask for an exchange or a refund. I had asked the cashier if I could talk to her in the back side of the wagon pointing to my plate and pointing to the back side of the wagon. I didn't want to announce it to the world what's wrong with my food. I'm doing it in the most professional manner and discreetly as possible. I walked to the back side of the wagon and another employee approached me. She said to me, what's the problem and I said, I asked the cashier to meet me in the back. She then told me, no one comes back here. Go to the front of the line where you ordered. I was shocked. (Maybe I should have gone back to the front of the line so all the other patrons could hear what was wrong with my food and I could have shown it to them too.) Then she said, what's wrong, maybe I can help you. I replied, there is a cockroach leg in my plate. She then said in a rude toned voice, well what do you want to do? Duh, at least offer me 2 new plates for the 2 I had ordered or comp me something. But because of her attitude I had asked nicely for a refund. The cashier then came out of the wagon and apologized to me but the apology came a little to late. I just smiled and took my refund back and left. This issue wasn't handled in a professional manner. I had a terrible experience that I will no longer support their business.

    (1)

  • Sharon Y.

    Very garlicky shrimp, slightly overcooked, and we had to wait a really long time for it after we ordered. Good flavor but overrated, IMO. Definitely wouldn't make a special trip up to the North Shore just for this.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    Omg!!! So good! Me and my hubby both got the shrimp scampi plate and had to go back for another plate! So simple but so goooood!! The garlic sauce is the best.

    (5)

  • Russ S.

    Lord of the flies! We were looking forward to a great meal but met with lord of the flies. Couldn't eat with the swarm around the truck and tables - totally ruined the experience.

    (1)

  • Kay N.

    WOW. literally the best shrimp I ever tasted. I tried the garlic shrimp and it was so fresh and flavorful. It comes with two scoops of rice too. If you want to eat something healthy, then I wouldn't recommend the garlic shrimp, it is more on the oily side. It is kinda hidden - you just gotta look for the truck with all of those markings on it. It is surrounded by other food trucks. I also didn't like how I got bitten by bugs while siting on their picnic tables. Maybe invest in one of those bug repellant machines.

    (5)

  • Mae B.

    Long line at this place ain't even worth the wait. The first & last time I had Giovanni's was not appetizing like everyone says. I got the butter garlic. First off, the shrimp wasn't cook, it lacked flavor, and the rice was so mushy that I literally lost my appetite! I'd rather go to Mackys or Famous Kahuku.

    (1)

  • Diana N.

    I had to try the iconic Giovanni's Shrimp Truck at least once in my life. It's located across the street from Mc Donald's. You'll see a line of trucks on the bottom of the road. After finding parking in their makeshift dirt lot, I made my way to the corner where Giovanni's is parked. Of course, I had to order their Shrimp Scampi. I must say...the shrimp were all different sizes. Some small...and others normal. All the shrimp trucks I've been to have equally large shrimp. Moving on. There was a lake of oil that filled the bottom of my styrofoam box. You couldn't eat any rice without any smothering of oil. Flavor was ok. Not bad...but not great. I like Romy's and Fumi's better...however it's a good 25 minute drive =( As with all shrimp truck eateries, expect a bunch of flies. You have to peel, eat and shoo...then repeat. If I'm eating in Haleiwa, I'd go to Opal's Thai food instead. Just sayin...

    (3)

  • Jhoren C.

    This will be an alternative if we don't feel like driving up to Kahuku. The food is basically the same as the original truck but I must admit the orginal Giovanni's sauce taste better? Idk it's the same ingredients but I can tell the difference. The service here is much slower but I can't really blame them, really it's mostly the TOURISTS that hold up the line that makes the wait so long asking all kinds of questions or they don't understand, not hearing their numbers being called out loud etc.

    (3)

  • Paul R.

    I got the shrimp scampi. It's definitely tasty but I don't think it's worth the drive from Waikiki just for this. I'd stop by and check out the waves by Waimea and go here after.

    (3)

  • Chris N.

    I'm going to give this an average of 3 stars because the first time I came here it was 4 stars and the second was 2. Both times I came here we had the scampi and the garlic hot dog. The first time, the shrimp and hot dog was nice and hot and so tasty. The second time the shrimp was cold! I'm not a fan of cold shrimp... The hot dog was hot but had almost no garlic seasoning on it at all. Maybe it was just on off day for the truck, so I'll give it an average of 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Mimi V.

    A lot of my friends told me about this Shrimp truck, so of course i had to find out what the rave was all about! Things i tried: - Scampi: The best one on the menu and a MUST!! All the flavors just mesh in your mouth and everything was just right! - Hot and Spicy: I didnt really liked the sauce it was cooked in. It was a bit too strong of a taste for me. - Lemon Butter: The shrimp was actually too lemony for me. 4 Stars for the Scampi! Service was nice. Location of the truck? Not so nice. The location had a lot of flies everywhere and it made us feel a bit dirty. Would i come back? Only for the scampi and nothing else.

    (4)

  • Samantha B.

    DON't really need to say much about this place! We ordered regular butter garlic shrimp scampi & spicy. Spicy was a little too spicy. & i usually love spicy, but it just made the flavor different. It was very expensive.....for I think what 6 pieces of shrimp. but it was good. and of course I had to try for my trip in Hawaii

    (5)

  • Angelica A.

    Okay so I brought my sister and cousin here for our first time. They came to visit, and back home people are always talking about where to eat when they come here. Don't get me wrong, the food has okay flavor, but it's just a hype. I ordered the number one, and well The shrimp was really greasy. I like garlic, but I think there was more minced garlic on my plate than there was rice. My sister ordered their "spicy shrimp," and well... It was more vinegary than spicy. Kind of like Tobasco. My sister's food was greasy too. As we ate the shrimp, we could see the plate absorbing all the oil, and our lips soon became glossed with oil. The food wasn't bad, but if you're into over hyped food, and like to follow the crowd, you'll probably like it here. I don't think I'll be returning back anytime soon, unless my family comes to visit. In the mean time, I'll cook my version at home, and save $13 on a dozen pieces of shrimp.

    (2)

  • Serena K.

    I was super excited to try one of the famous shrimp trucks of Hawaii, however, I was a bit disappointed. I tried both the shrimp scampi and the lemon pepper one. The texture of the shrimp wasn't bad. I would probably have to say the cooked the shrimp perfectly but I wasn't too fond of the sauces. The Lemon Pepper one tasted like shrimp with a dash of pepper and a few drops of lemon juice. It did not much have flavor to it. I ended up squeezing a bunch of lemon juice on it just so it would have more of a lemon flavor. I would skip this one. The Scampi one had a lot more taste to it than the Lemon Pepper. When I first saw the Scampi I got pretty excited because I saw tons of garlic on it but once I started eating it, it just tasted like oil and grease. I just can't get past the greasiness of it all. Sorry Giovanni's, but I don't think I'd come back.

    (2)

  • Brian L.

    Best garlic shrimp truck in Hawaii. Recommended by the locals and always come here every time I visit Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Andrea F.

    Giovanni's is the best! A must if you're on the north side of the island. My friend recommended this place to me and she warned me of all the other shrimp truck copycats. We were careful not to be fooled. Look for the name on the side of the truck, it wasn't hard to miss. There was also a bunch of picnic tables in front of the truck, which was nice for the customers. Ordered a half order of shrimp scampi (6 shrimp) which came with a scoop of rice topped with garlic garlic garlic! I usually don't like to work for my food, e.g. de-shelling shrimp, but I'd peel the shells of Giovanni's shrimp any day! The shrimp was very flavorful. The full order has twice the shrimp and two scoops of rice, but the half order was pretty filling for me. I also ordered a side of macaroni salad for a dollar.

    (5)

  • Chary E.

    No line when I went, the serving was huge and they threw in some extra sauce for me.. I hate to say it, but it was way too salty for me.

    (4)

  • Amie O.

    It is good shrimp, and a fun vibe, but the menu is limited and the lines are long. There are quite a few food trucks surrounding this one, some with no lines at all. Like I said, the food was good, but I don't know that it was good enough to justify waiting in a long line for food, vs just trying the other trucks instead. Parking is terrible.

    (3)

  • Janel Y.

    Yes it's touristy and yes it's expensive ($13), but hey, every time I come back to Oahu, I gotta have my shrimp scampi plate! A dozen pieces of shrimp (with their shells on) soaked in oil and garlic come on a plate with two scoops of rice and a lemon wedge. The food taste so good that I'm willing to make the drive and cough up the money. Just would have liked if this location would honor the Yelp free drink check in offer as well (right now, only the other location has the check in offer). Also, I feel like the scoops of rice have gotten smaller. You can ask for two more scoops of rice for $1. Small lot to park your car in. Port -o-potty on premises. Bring wet wipes!

    (4)

  • Dianna D.

    I am so glad to finally to try this place. I had been a resident of Hawaii for such a long time, and never came to the North Shore to try Giovanni's. Can't believe I never came here for such ono grindz. Rolled in around 2 in the afternoon to avoid the lunch crowd. Got a parking spot almost immediately and spent about 10 minutes waiting in line and waiting for the food. I tried both the scampi and the hot and spicy. Both came with sticky rice. The shrimp were headless and deveined, while in-shell. Both of the shrimp batches I had were perfectly cooked and fittingly slathered with sauce. I felt the hot and spicy was way too spicy for my taste buds, but the garlicky scampi was perfect for my garlic-loving palate. I really wish I could handle spicy food because the flavor of the spicy was quite good, though I could have done with less of the tobasco. There were a bunch of tables in front of the truck, and people were leaving them as fast as the food was being served. The workers are pretty chill and friendly to all customers. The amount of flies around was a bit annoying. There were dozens of them flying around, trying to get at the shrimp, so I had to continuously bat them away. Also there were other trucks around this one. Make sure not to mistake another truck as Giovanni's! Also there is acai bowl and milk tea at the truck nearby in case a refreshing dessert is also of want.

    (5)

  • Kelly N.

    Worth the 1 hour drive from our hotel. It's hard to find parking so you have to be patient. There were a few food trucks but none had as many people as Giovanni. Placed my order for shrimp scampi and hot & spicy shrimp with a side of Mac salad. It took about 30 minutes to get our order. The shrimp scampi is really delicious and garlicky. The hot & spicy shrimp was spicy. As you eat more of it, the spicier it gets. I squeezed a lemon and it helped neutralize the overpowering spices. Although I normally eat spicy food, I actually prefer the shrimp scampi.

    (4)

  • Eighh L.

    Good place to stop after your Hawaiian outdoor activities. Food is a bit heavy with the meats and sauce. Picnic benches are outside and the wind and bugs were a little irritating. Price is a bit high for a "food truck". However I'd go back.

    (3)

  • Jennifer J.

    This was our first stop when we went North Shore. The place is packed with tourist. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi. Since this is seafood, the place is swarming with flies. So, get ready to shoo flies away while eating. Anything swimming in butter would taste good! There really isn't anything special with these shrimp if you know how to cook.

    (3)

  • Melody T.

    I've eaten at about five different places that claim their the best shrimp on the island and Giovanni's is still #1 on my list. Because they're not skimpy on the shrimp and the shrimp stays rather crispy as opposed to others who douse their shrimp in sauce making it semi soggy or what not. Love that they have plenty of free parking!

    (5)

  • Jen P.

    Da best! You gotta try their shrimp scampi. It's amazing!!! Cash only. Shrimp is deveined, super fresh, and easy to peel. Every time we go to Oahu we go there at least 2-3 times to get the same thing. Giovanni shrimp shack is the MUST eat place (IMHO) when visiting Oahu.

    (5)

  • Rockne H.

    Whenever I'm in Hawaii, I ALWAYS make it a point to visit Giovanni's. I've been to the Kahuku location many times and think this place is just amazing. It's really worth the drive from Honolulu, trust me. On this visit, we drove through Haleiwa and stumbled upon it's second location! I had no idea a second location existed! I was excited because I knew it would take another 30-45 minutes to get to Kahuku from Haleiwa with all the traffic. This was VERY convenient. Just like it's original truck, this one is also covered with writing and playful graffiti. A little awning allows you to enjoy the shade while you order our meal. A little menu next to side window offers some of their most popular dishes. Whenever you come, you need to try their most popular dish, number 1, the Shrimp Scampi for $13. A very healthy serving of buttery, garlic shrimp. I counted mine and I received 12 shrimps to be exact. The shrimp is homegrown and true Kahuku shrimp. Along with the protein, this plate is served with two scoops of rice and topped with more of the garlic butter and a lemon wedge. Man this is a super flavorful dish. Lots of juiciness, lots of chunks of garlic and just packed with flavor. Every time I get this, I'm truly in awe at how awesome this meal is. I really, REALLY recommend this! For years, I've been to this place and for years to come I will continue to frequent this place. Food Network has really put this truck on the map and I'm so glad I'm able to enjoy this in my lifetime. If you are ever on Oahu, please make the drive to Haleiwa or Kahuku and try this place out. you will NOT be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Nicole C.

    I was in Hawaii for vacation and heard about this place so me and my fiancee decided to visit. Best shrimp I ever had, not the best scenery but hey for the food, cost, and quick service I definitely recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Jessie B.

    Went to the Northshore location. Really great place for shrimp scampi. If you're a garlic fan you'll love it here. Parking is okay and wait to get food was not long at all. Only concern is the many flys everywhere lol. For more reviews and pics add me on Instagram!! JessieJamesBalantac

    (3)

  • Michael A.

    We decided to give this truck a try during our visit to North Shore. Location was very serene and beautiful. People need to realize that it is not a restaurant and the seating or waiting area is out in the open. We tried all Scampi, Lemon Butter, and the Hot & Spicy. All dishes were great but I have to admit the Hot & Spicy is very hot and not for every palette. All in all we really enjoyed all the dishes and would definitely recommend it to anyone that visits this side of the island. Only complaint, there are no restrooms around and you have to walk across the street to McDonalds.

    (4)

  • Tourn C.

    Idk bout y'all, but this place gives me the runs! Ordered a spicy shrimp, Im asian so we like it HOT! There was a sign that said no refunds if we were not able to handle the spice.... pssht... bring it on! ordered it and guess what? no damn spice but more sour if anything.. like they used vinegar?? like tobasco kind? idk but it sucked so bad i wanted to cry for them.

    (1)

  • Tim Y.

    Visited North Shore while in Oahu so I had to stop by Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. They are located in this dirt lot along with several other "food/shrimp" trucks. It may be difficult to locate so look for McDonalds -the lot is diagonally across the street. I went mid-day/week so there was no wait. I tried a full order of their garlic shrimp scampi. The garlic buttery taste was amazing! My cholesterol probably shot up a good 10 points! It was worth it though! :-) The staff was friendly and my order was ready in 2 minutes. Can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Richie W.

    This place is ok. The parking lot is insane. The line was about 20 min, which was ok, but a little crazy for a place like this. The fly problem is pretty insane. I should have checked in on yelp to get the free drink or whatever. The garlic shrimp was pretty good, but honestly, I'm not sure I'd get this over say, The Boiling Crab here in so.cal . It was a touristy thing to do though, and I'm not sad that I came here.... I am, however sad, about getting hawaiian ice at matsumoto's up the block. That place is NOT worth an hour wait. Sorry, it's just not.

    (4)

  • Mariko K.

    I'm not sure why people go crazy for Giovanni's. It's decent, but nothing special. I don't like how the shrimp are swimming in overpowering sauce. Also, it's pricey. I'd rather make shrimp at home, but I always take visitors here since it's so famous.

    (2)

  • Jennifer N.

    Not the same experience as I had in 2008. Truck is no longer secluded on the road. Shrimp and rice were soggy. Spicy is pretty spicy and slightly tart. If you're expecting something like boiling crab, it is not the same. I think BC is served better garlic shrimps. They got our orders wrong and so we had to go back in line to get more. Girl wasn't nice or considerate to fix our orders. This is why I hate Oahu, it got too industrial and especially if people made it to the top they're no longer the same people.

    (2)

  • Sarah S.

    Went to this food truck while we were trying a couple of others in the area. This was the busiest of them all! We tried the shrimp scampi fish, which has been raved about.it was good, they put the seasoning on the rice portion they give you, but it was more like burnt scraps tossed on it- not great. The shrimp itself was tasty- be ready to make a mess while you're eating- also a lot of flies in the area.

    (3)

  • Leimomi K.

    The only downside is the long line but the food is always so tasty and worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Ken M.

    This is the BEST Shrimp Truck on the North Coast. What more can you say? The line was long and we were #24 and the current order up was #4. But, they're very fast and the Shrimp Scampi and Lemon Shrimp were Killer. They have shaded seating and sinks to wash up after devouring their Amazing Shrimp. I noted another reviewer complaining about a few"flies" in the outdoor eating area. Give me a break! If you're too much of a wuss and can't handle a few insects then it's obvious you don't belong here.

    (5)

  • Les L.

    There are a lot of food trucks selling garlicky shrimp in Hawaii but Giovanni's is supposed to be one of the best. It's located a little bit outside of the main stretch of Haleiwa along with a few other food trucks in a dirt lot. We ordered the shrimp scampi, which come a dozen to an order, with two scoops of white rice, lemon wedges, and absolutely dripping in a buttery sauce loaded with garlic. The shrimps are perfectly cooked and snappy and the best way to make the most of the sauce is to suck on the shrimp shells before you peel them to get all the delicious flavor. There's a lot of beachy, Hawaiian flavor in this lot. Wild chickens roam freely and this is kind of like the original food truck. There's also a sink in the vicinity next to the driveway which really helps to wash off after the delicious, but messy meal.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle C.

    Best shrimp on the island no doubt about it. Only thing I've noticed after past years is that they give wayyy smaller rice portions. We hawaii locals LOVE our rice! It went from a fist scoop to a golf ball sized scoop. There's always a line which us understandable but the wait for our order is never to long.

    (5)

  • Melissa C.

    The shave ice is not worth it so don't buy it. The shrimp plate is delicious, garlicky but very oily. I thought the price was decent for a dozen shrimps. I will probably come back for the shrimp plate but not for the shave ice.

    (3)

  • Mai H.

    I tried Macky's a couple years ago and thought it was decent. I've heard so much about Giovanni's so decided to try it during this visit. As a California girl, I've been so spoiled with food. There are tons of great seafood places in CA, especially in the bay. Came here around 11am and there were a few other groups. I love garlic as well as spicy food, so I went for the shrimp scampi with hot sauce on the side. The rice was moist and tasted undercooked. The shrimps were plump and were cooked perfectly. However, the shrimp/sauce were bland and the hot sauce couldn't save it. I'm not sure what would make it more flavorful.

    (2)

  • John M.

    They have a very simple menu. which makes it real easy to choose. We just got one of every thing, well almost every thing. We tried scampi shrimp, one with their of sauce and a garlic hot dog. Now I love garlic, and you can never have to much, and they hit it right on the mark. Their hot sauce is hot, but has a great balance between hot and garlic. This is one of those place you go for the food and not the ambiance, but it is worth the journey, and it is not over priced for Hawaii

    (5)

  • James N.

    The shrimp scampi was great but very messy! It took a lot of time to remove the shells and by the time you're done your hands are covered in buttery garlic sauce. It would have been great if they gave you wet wipes or had a restroom to wash your hands off in. Overall the food was great but the wait time was 30 min for 2 plates and we were the first people in line. I would recommend this shrimp truck but there are so many others, so don't fall prey to the hype!

    (3)

  • S E.

    best shrimp food truck. large shrimp, very tasty, lots of garlic on rice. I've tried other 2 and this is by far the best one.

    (5)

  • Kassity L.

    Don't understand what the hype about this place is. We got their garlic shrimp platter. Couldn't really tell if the shrimp was fresh or from the area. The outside of the shrimp was doused in sauce but the shrimp insides were tasteless which makes me think they boil the shrimp here first and just add sauce on top. Being a good truck (and offering really no service and environment), this place was expensive. It was $14 for two scoops of rice and 12 shrimp.

    (3)

  • RJ B.

    After all the hype, I have to say I wasn't all that impressed. Ordered the shrimp scampi which was pretty tasty, but not this overwhelming fantastic thing. It's a food truck I get it- but it was pretty smelly. The cleanliness of the kitchen left much to be desired too. I think it's a north shore staple that everyone should try.

    (4)

  • Sharie R.

    While visiting family friends in Oahu, HI. We heard that this is one of the spots to eat at. Despite that I can't eat shrimp, I can tell it looks amazing! I had the Hot Dog and it was so good with their garlic sauce on top with Rice. Hope to come back again when I vacay to Hawaii

    (5)

  • Jon R.

    It's good but not the best! Some people say it's better than Boiling Crab, I do not. It's $13 for a dozen medium (half dollar sized) shrimp and rice topped with their "famous" garlic sauce. Is it fresh local shrimp? I don't know. No signs say either it is or it isn't. You have to try it once! It's good but it isn't the end all be all of shrimp in my opinion. There are better shrimp trucks on the island, ask any local and they'll tell you. If you find yourself on the North Shore and want do exactly what all the other tourists are doing, then eat here. Otherwise, just wait and enjoy Boiling Crab on the mainland or try another food truck.

    (4)

  • Kristy L.

    Location: There's two locations, we went to the one in North Shore. You basically have to pull into an area and park; there are other trucks around as well. The truck itself has graffiti all over it, you won't miss it. Food: We ordered the $12 dollar scampi plate which is their most popular. This came with 2 scoops of rice, a dozen of shrimp, and a lemon. We also ordered the hotdog and an additonal half a plate of the scampi between two people. They seasoned the shrimps way too much with butter and garlic. I felt like I was eating a plate of cholesterol the entire time. Not to mention, I still had garlic breath the next day! Lol. We had to peel the shells off the shrimps ourselves--not too hard because they cut them a bit so it was made easy. The taste was good, I say, but not exquisite. Ambiance: Prepare to eat your meal with flies. They were everywhere! We moved from one table to the next and they religously followed us. Other: No public potties. You can cross the street and utilize the restroom at McDonald's.

    (3)

  • Letie W.

    This is my first time here AND MY LAST. The line at Giovanni's is longer which deceptively gives you the impression it's the best. Ok, maybe at one time it was, but today it was just oily and bad. Of course, all shrimp trucks will serve you oily shrimp..after all...it is shrimp scampi! Right? Okay, so what about the burnt garlic that is mounted on the plate. Personally, I don't like the bitter taste of burnt garlic smothered all over my shrimp and placed in heaps on top of my rice! The burnt taste not only radiated from the garlic, but was in the oil as well...which of course..drenched the rice! And I'm not sure about how the shrimp usually taste, but didn't someone forget to add salt today? My lunch was bland with a burnt garlic taste and oily enough to soak 3 paper plates. Gross, right? So, how do I know the other shrimp trucks aren't the same? I purchased a garlic shrimp plate from Giovanni's and Hono's to compare which I think is better. Both plates cost $13, come with 2 scoops of rice, have a dozen garlic shrimp. You can see my pictures. Hono's has a very small wait, larger "sweeter" shrimp (yes, someone actually flavored them with seasonings and SALT), and didn't sit in a puddle of oil. Yes, there isn't a heap of garlic sitting on top of my rice, but ya know...I'd rather have a great tasting lunch instead of trying to stomach all the burnt garlic. So the verdict, I don't recommend this place. Try Hono's, you'll love it. Don't believe me, do the same comparison...buy a plate from each place. Then you'll understand when I say I told you so. Sorry Giovanni's...as much as a beloved place you are to many people...to my $%#! list you go!

    (1)

  • Jeziell B.

    I've had Giovanni's a long time ago, then the last time I went to Hawaii 2 years back, I had Macky's. This time around we decided to try them both at the same time to compare. We bought shrimp to go from Macky's so we could taste them against Giovanni's, and right away we saw that Giovanni's was a better value because they give 12 shrimp while Macky's only gives 8. On a side note, Giovanni's does seem busier and is in a plaza with a lot of other food trucks, so it might be trickier to find parking if you come at a busy time. Their line can get pretty longggg. Although Macky's garlic shrimp has good flavor, for some reason their garlic sauce doesn't really get into their shrimp and Giovanni's definitely had more garlic sauce on theirs. Giovanni's won this shrimp truck taste test this time.

    (4)

  • Ali E.

    Love the sign denying refunds to people who order the Hot and Spicy - it convinced me that that was my order. They don't lie, you feel the burn for real - the kind of burn where you have to start eating faster halfway through your meal so you can finish before your tastebuds burn off - but it hurts so good. The standard garlic was yummy too, but give me spicy any day of the week. Yum.

    (4)

  • Gina N.

    We've been to the original location quite a few times. This is the first time we've been to this location in Haleiwa. Not sure if it's an off day but the shrimp scampi was DRENCHED in butter and oil. The rice was sitting in all the oil and grease which made it unappealing to eat. The shrimp itself was delicious but I felt the excessive grease and oil made it not very satisfying. I feel the quality has gone downhill over the years due to the popularity. There's better garlic shrimp trucks to try. Giovanni's is hit or miss these days.

    (3)

  • Elise K.

    The absolute best. Even tried Macky's right before, and it definitely does not come close!!! Giovanni's is what I crave every time I'm on the North Shore! Their Shrimp Scampi is to die for!!! So much garlic and butter :)

    (5)

  • Crystal W.

    Heed the warning, the hot and spicy shrimp will burn your face off! I can handle a decently high level of heat, but I didn't even get to enjoy the flavor of the shrimp it was so spicy. The location was great, right off the road, plenty of seating. I didn't have to wait to order and had about a 30 minute wait for my food to come out. There are several little stands nearby, so I could pass the time shopping. I highly recommend it, it is worth the hype. Don't chicken out when you see the line.

    (5)

  • Alyssa S.

    This was absolutely amazing!!! We loved the whole food truck set up and the food was to die for! We had the spicy shrimp and it was spicy but still had a lot of flavor. This was gluten free option when gluten free options are extremely limited in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Elsworth P.

    Excellent!! The best food we had on the trip. We were on our dive to North Shore, when I spotted the smoke from all the food trucks and saw how packed the parking lot was. I said to my wife, "we have to pull over here. This MUST be good food, look at all the cars" You know what I was right. I loved the garlic and pepper shrimp

    (4)

  • Y V.

    The garlic shrimp was very tasty. Beware of the hot and spicy though. It is extremely spicy. My MIL and I both love spicy food and thought we had pretty good tolerance but this was out of our league. Tables are limited. The flies are annoying and bring your own wipes. No restrooms except for the McDonalds across the street.

    (4)

  • Karen H.

    3 1/2 stars Since my first shrimp truck was in Maui (Geste Shrimp), which was the best shrimp I ever had in my life, Giovanni's and Mackys don't even compare. Got the garlic shrimp. I like that the shrimp is more plump than Mackys here and that you can do half orders, but the rice was too mushy.

    (3)

  • Daniel C.

    What can I say that has not already been said....the food is excellent!!! The original is a stable and a must try for first timers. The hot, is super hot. I like hot/ spicy stuff but their hot plate made me sweat. So dope!!!

    (5)

  • Suavecito m.

    It kind of reminds me of Pat's and Geno's in Philly in that this place is a tourist trap. The food was good don't get me wrong but is this juice worth the squeeze? The shrimp is doused in garlic and butter and has a great taste.The wait was pretty darn long and we were there pretty darn early and one of the first to order. Lots of great food trucks on the island you have to try this place at least once to get your photo taken in front of the truck like thousand's of others. Tons of flies around and of course the chickens which I guess adds to the ambiance but I could see how it could turn off some folks as well if you are into hygiene (I know some folks won't eat at food truck's period) and this place won't exactly alleviate those fears.

    (3)

  • Emily H.

    YUM! Definitely stop by if you're in the area! Right by the beach so why not?! Just a heads up, it's cash only!

    (5)

  • L. T.

    The spicy is spicy hot, I usually like my food spicy but the spicy garlic shrimp was too spicy. I couldn't even eat it. Try the regular garlic ones first. Our sons girlfriend doesn't eat shell fish and she got the hot dog, yes hot dog,,.i don t think I would get anything but the shrimp plates here. So yummy yum yum!!

    (5)

  • Julie D.

    THE BEST GARLIC SHRIMP EVER! This place is like crack. My husband and I have our random cravings for this place. We gather our friends and drive all the way to this truck. Okay just writing about it is literally making my mouth water. Wish there was a truck closer to town. I guess that's a good thing or else I might go to this place every day and may develop gout or high cholesterol. You gotta get a side of hot sauce. Make sure you suck/lick the garlic from the shrimp shell, peel, dip the peeled shrimp into the hot sauce, place the shrimp in your mouth...ORGASM IN YOUR MOUTH! The shrimp scampi is the most popular which is about $13/plate. Seating area can get busy so you should have someone wait on people to leave and another person picking up the food. Make a phone order in advance so you can get your order first instead of waiting in the long line. You'll notice other vendors in the same area selling shave ice, corn, and funnel cake... try them as well!

    (5)

  • Doris K.

    Holy garlic shrimp. Shrimp (other than Boiling Crab) will never be the same. We ordered the Shrimp Scampi and got a plate full of big, fat shrimp. I think there were 8-10 + two heaps of rice for $13. Check in with Yelp to get a free drink! The shrimp was nothing but garlicy goodness and it wasn't too spicy (the bf had no problem eating it and he's not good with spicy). You can ask for a side of hot sauce at now extra charge. Every shrimp was marinated and dripping with sauce -- finger licking good is an understatement here. The tables were a bit janky (think fold up kind) and they don't give enough napkins, but who cares. There's sinks for your to wash your hands as well as full bathrooms (that are clean!!) in the back. While I loved the shrimp, I'm not sure if it would've been worth the drive if we hadn't been meeting people up. If you're on your way up north, def stop by.

    (4)

  • Lauren H.

    3.5 Stars. Shrimp Scampi. Shrimp Scampi. Shrimp Scampi. Shrimp Scampi. We ordered the half order of the hot one and the scampi. The hot one was just spicy but didn't really have much flavor to it. The Shrimp Scamp was delicious! We were in the food truck area and went to Dat Cajun Guy truck as well and I like their food better only because I'm a big cajun fan (so a little bit biased in my case). This truck had a huge line compared to the other trucks. Also you need CASH! No cash no food. If you come here, shrimp scampi is a must.

    (3)

  • Taylor A.

    The infamous GIOVANNIS! What happened to this place? Back then a few years back this place use to be my #1 go-to shrimp truck on that side if the island! Came back today, it'll probably be my last. $13 for "a dozen" pieces of jumbo shrimp, 2 scoops rice and a lemon wedge. Price is reasonable, get use to it if you're grabbing a shrimp plate any where on that side. So why 2 stars? Guy that took my order was really friendly, I went today (on a Sunday afternoon) so of course it was packed with mostly tourist. My friend and I waited on the side of the truck as there was no where to sit in front but I get it, it's another busy day there like always. I was number 18 & my friend was 17. We didn't hear our number, we heard "16" so we moved closer to the window knowing we might be next then the next number called was 20, then 23, so we thought maybe they skip a few for whatever reason, then it was 25, 26, so we went to the front window to the lady calling out numbers passing out plates and asked if our numbers were called. She gave attitude and replied with "uh, yea a while ago" , didn't make eye contact with us and kept helping other customers that ordered AFTER us and still gave them their food first. (Keep in mind we have already been waiting 30+ minutes for our food at this point) so anyway, she gives us our plates and we leave to go to the beach to eat since it was too packed there with no where to sit. When I got to the beach, I open my plate, and guess what, there's 11 shrimps in there! Lol. Yeah, I'm 1 piece less, and 1 out of the 11 shrimps in there was already peeled with no tail. Okay I'm not gonna make a big deal out of 1 shrimp is what most people would say, but I'm paying $13 and driving out there to get the same "DOZEN" shrimp they claim to always give know what I mean. And I felt cuz a little short since also one piece was missing it's shell & tail I wish I took a photo, if I wasn't so damn hungry after waiting for my food for so long, I would've but it's okay. Oh and PUT MORE GARLIC!!!! They use to load the plate with garlic butter on rice and shrimp this time it was like a thin layer with no extra sauce left over on the plate like there is usually...idk. Also, they forgot to pack a fork for my friends plate so we had to share a fork...I was disappointed in this because this use to be my favorite! Instead of not really giving a shit about your customers, especially local customers, pls consider COUNTING your shrimp before giving it or at least having good friendly service. Every plate counts! Every person counts so every plate should be consistent an the same good quality, but obviously it wasn't. If you don't like your job, quit it. A friendly smile & "thank you" would've been nice too. I'll definitely from now on be sticking to the original famous kahuku shrimp truck a little more down. Way better quality and customer service there for sure.

    (2)

  • YajJen Y.

    Over rated not as good as romy's shrimp truck. The shrimp was a little dry. The hot and spicy is super spicy so do not order it if you can't take spicy. I eat spicy all the time but this spicy was way too spicy

    (3)

  • Christopher D.

    Shrimp trucks are awesome, and Giovanni's delivers on all accounts. Soft, succulent shrimp, generous portions, great flavors and a true shrimp truck experience all add up to a hit by the highway! As with most shrimp trucks (as opposed to the foodie-indulging food trucks on the mainland), Giovanni's is nothing to look at. Don't let that scare you away! We ordered a full plate of the Shrimp Scampi, a full plate of the Lemon Butter shrimp, and a half-plate of the "No Refunds" Hot & Spicy shrimp (which they warn you cannot be returned). Each dish comes with at least a dozen shrimp atop two scoops of rice. The shrimp scampi are drenched in this tangy, rich garlic butter sauce that my son couldn't get enough of, literally licking his fingers until it was all gone. The lemon butter shrimp are light and buttery and very good. The spicy shrimp are hot, but not suicide-wings hot...the spicy red sauce is equivalent to a good two-chili Thai recipe. Shrimp trucks are decidedly laid-back and informal, but the food is world-class and makes for an excellent lunch. We took ours to go and found a beach within a 10 minute drive that offered jaw-dropping views to go along with our delicious food. This is an experience well-worth the drive to the North Shore!

    (4)

  • Trookie N.

    This was far from where we are staying. But heard good things about them. The line was crazy long. It was worth the wait. Loved the area. There were so many cute shops around for tourists. We tried Romy's and wasn't impress. After we went to Romy's we came here. I love their spicy flavor as well as the scampi too. Must have before you leave the island. We went on Sunday and it was pack. We came back today and it was less busy. Recommend coming here weekdays.

    (5)

  • Ellie B.

    Thanks to Yelp, we stopped here on our trip to the Northshore and it did not disappoint. My husband and I shared the garlic shrimp plate and it was really tasty. 12 shrimp, lemon, and rice. The wait wasn't too long and there were spots at the row of picnic tables for us to get to work. There are also some other cool food trucks nearby.

    (4)

  • elizabeth t.

    Absolutely delicious!!! I can't believe how good the shrimp is here! I couldn't help but dance while eating each and every piece. Each and every bite just made me so happy. At first, I didn't know if the hour wait would be worth it. I was so annoyed at the unorganized and confusing two line method they use but after taking my first bite, I realized that it was all worth it! I ordered the scampi shrimp and my fiancé ordered the garlic hot dog since he's allergic to shrimp. lol. The shrimp was so big, juicy and flavorful! The hot dog was good too but it was just like any other hot dog. I would totally recommend ordering the shrimp scampi. Trust me, there's a long line for the truck for a reason and it's totally worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Ashley O.

    Absolutely love this place! I always get the #2 (hot and spicy) but be prepared, it is really spicy. The shrimp have the shells left on them but they are easy to peel off. You get a dozen shrimp with two scoops of rice on your plate for 13 bucks. Well worth it in my opinion. I unfortunately have to agree with some of the other reviews about the cleanliness of the area to eat at here. It's picnic tables, which is awesome. It gives it that backyard feeling. However, the amount of flies and other animals running around this area (because they know there is always food) is not appealing. I will continue to come back here just for the shrimp truck though. I always get my food to go.

    (4)

  • Charlene S.

    I look forward to coming here every time I visit Hawaii. I love their hot and spicy shrimp.

    (5)

  • J M.

    I just finished work at kapolei and my parents surprised me with wanting to eat north Shore shrimp.. awesome! So we drove all the way from Kapolei to this place. Obviously, considering my 1 star rating, I was not happy. We got there close to 5. We stood in front of the truck for a few minutes deciding what we wanted to order. The boy who was working clearly saw us checking out the menu. Once we walked up to him to order, he immediately took the menu away. Not saying one word. I was confused, so was my mom. She had to ask twice if they were not accepting orders anymore until we got a response. I learned that they close at 5. Ok, I'm sorry I was there 5 to 10 minutes until 5. I know you want to go home. But what angers me is that the worker SAW ME LOOKING AT THE MENU, WANTING TO ORDER. How unprofessional was he to not inform me WHILE I was looking at the menu that they were closing. Instead he takes the menu away once I'm ready to order AND not say anything about it? Ok... so that's one truck I'll never go to again. No matter... because of that incident, I went to the shrimp truck next to this truck. Hono, I believe. It was delicious! Also add on 5 shrimps for $3? That's what I'm talking about! But that's for another review. So, my advice? Skip this truck. They obviously don't care about business towards the end of their shift.

    (1)

  • Jaz L.

    Scrumptious mouth watering shrimp smothered with fresh garlic and butter leaves your mouth wanting more. This place is amazing!! $13 will buy you twelve large shrimps cooked either scampi style, spicy,or lemon butter with two scoops of white rice. It doesn't surprise me that this place is always packed. As the name states, it's a truck but they do provide a covered area with benches to enjoy your meal. Even a place to wash your hands since it is peel and eat shrimp. This place is located in the beautiful and non-developed north shore where you can enjoy real Aloha and beautiful beaches. Walk over to Willi Willi's for really awesome Hawaiian shaved ice. This place is a must.

    (5)

  • Crystal H.

    The rave reviews are well deserved. Would eat here regularly if I could. The shrimp are absolutely delicious. We only got one super spicy plate, but I kinda wish we'd gotten more as it was so tasty. We also got the other flavors and they were all salivatingly delicious. The food truck area it is in is lovely and funky, with chickens running around.

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    This plAce is amazing. There is a line and waiting is long, but well worth it. Don't settle for anything else. Make sure you sit on their designated tables or you will be asked to move

    (5)

  • Kazu O.

    Be warned - garlic burps ahead. Plump, juicy shrimp, with a delicious garlicky scampi sauce or a lemon-butter. I definitely loved it! The rice was a bit too mushy, but no complaints otherwise.

    (5)

  • Risca P.

    I was lucky to have had the chance to try the shrimp truck while I was in Hawaii for only 7 days. I was staying at a house that was out of the way so a friend (who has been living there for 2 years) took me there. Thank you, Nick! It was an interestingly-looking truck with scribbles of graffiti and stickers all over it. I think that was a part of its attraction. I tried their famous garlic shrimp plate with rice and my sister had the spicy plate. We had to bring the food elsewhere because the spot was swamped with flies. Too many for us to bear. We drove down just a bit further and sat our butts on one of the benches. Delicious. It is very important to me that the rice is soft, and guess what? The rice WAS as soft as I liked it to be. Perfection. I loved my dish. Strong garlic flavors, but not disgustingly so. Just make sure you bring some mints. The spicy plate was good too but I think the spiciness overpowered its other flavors. What really made it memorable though, was the rice. Can't get enough of it. At $12-$13 a plate, these shrimp folks are millionaires! At least that's what I heard. No matter how much money they have, I doubt they will upgrade their trucks though. Haha! Any chance you will open in NYC?

    (4)

  • Jeelyn D.

    Customer service was horrible. The cashier rolled eyes and yelled at the customers. Shrimp was so so. Little to no taste at all. Mikes huli huli shrimp was better tasting and they were known for their chicken instead. Hotdog has no taste at all... so disappointed!

    (1)

  • Johnny G.

    First time at a shrimp truck/shack in Hawaii! Came here because of all the raves and rants on yelp and it was, to say the least, disappointing. My girlfriend and I both ordered the shrimp scampi and it ran us about $27 for 2 plates. The food took about 20 mins to come and by that time, I was ready to DIG IN. After the initial bite, I thought it was extremely salty (to my liking at least) so I mixed it around with the rice to try to neutralize the saltiness. Even after mixing, it was still too salty for me. It was good, but it would've tasted way better if they used less sodium. Cash only? beats me, I paid with cash. Parking: Free parking around the area.

    (3)

  • Charlie G.

    Saw a long line when I was out in Haleiwa so figured I had to try it. The shrimp plate was okay at most, and definitely overpriced. If you're in need of a shrimp plate or are one vacation and wanna try one Macky's down the street is a much better option. It's also super touristy and prices are the same, but the shrimp is way better. The cashier also overcharged me a dollar but that's pretty minor but still lol.

    (2)

  • Ashley N.

    If you are a first timer, get the shrimp scampi. It is what they are known for. It was very good garlic shrimp. I'm actually craving it right now as I write this. But the shrimp was very tasty. Do not be afraid to use your hands to peel the shrimp and try not to let all of that juiciness go to waste. Suck on the shell of the shrimp, peel it, & eat it with rice. The rice was a nice addition. Get a side of hot sauce to add some flavor, but be careful, I like spicy foods, but that hot sauce was hot! No wonder why they add a side note that says "no refunds" on the hot shrimp plate. Oh, and be sure to squeeze some lemon all over. The server was very nice and helpful. It was quick & we got there perfect timing because there was no line. Plate was worth the $13!

    (4)

  • Tom C.

    Good garlic shrimp, a bit on the oily side. But still pretty awesome. My wife didn't like it with shell on, so only 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Reg Z.

    Holy garlic and spicy shrimp batman. Nice and plump, arguably the best we had on the island. Lots of garlic taste to it, not over cooked like some other garlic shrimp we had. The spicy shrimp wasn't incredibly hot, rather just good flavor.

    (5)

  • Ryan S.

    Shrimp scampi was delicious! Full of garlic just the way I like it!

    (4)

  • mike k.

    The reason for the 3 stars is the hype. It is shrimp scampi, a pretty easy dish. Just wish that they had more than the 3 offerings. Nothing overly wrong with the place just that with the hype I expected a bit more. Spicy is VERY VERY spicy. I got the sauce on the side and still nearly died. I tried a ton of other places on Oahu the week I was here and this was one of the more forgettable meals. Oil + garlic = easy

    (3)

  • Jerrica N.

    If you like shrimp, garlic and butter you will definitely like Giovanni's shrimp truck. I have tried other shrimp trucks in HI and CA and this is by far the best. The only reason why I am only giving it four stars is because the last time I went it didn't taste fresh, like it could have been from a batch the day before since I did go right when it was opening time. Nonetheless, this place is legit! Can be messy and leave your fingers smelling like garlic but it is worth it. The serving portion could be a little bigger as I could finish a whole plate to myself because it is just that good! This location may be out of the way for some but you can visit north shore and spend the whole day in that location. I've only had the regular garlic and butter, next time I will try the spicy!

    (4)

  • Nora L.

    I had read really good things about this place so ordered the shrimp scampi. The shrimp was good, but not amazing, and the sauce was oily and all over the rice which I really didn't like. I was really excited and everything about this place should have been a win for me but somehow it just missed the mark.

    (3)

  • Ruxin H.

    I drove pass the truck and saw a line there, so I decided to stop and check it out; and I had the best shrimp scampi in my life. The line can be pretty long depending on the time of day and the sanitary condition is not that great, but at least there are faucets where you can wash your hand. Wait time was about 20 min and you get a plate of very oily garlicky shrimp scampi. Probably not very good for my artilleries, but it tasted really really good. I think there is a shrimp farm near the truck so that their shrimp was super fresh. You can tell by the texture.

    (5)

  • Mo G.

    Every time we visit the islands Giovanni's shrimp truck is a must have. After a tour around the island we checked out one of the family favs! Every time we go back it always seems like there's more food trucks in the gravel pit. I remember when it was just Giovanni's.. I guess we've been going there for that long. I walked up, no line and ordered the garlic shrimp with some hot sauce. Their hot sauce is the bomb by the way! They still only accept cash??! I would have thought they would've jumped on board and purchased one of those iPad credit card gadgets. Luckily I had exactly $13, cost of a garlic shrimp plate. Sorry no tip today, I'll get you next time ;) We took the meal to go and ate at the hotel. We also stopped by Ono Seafood and picked up some poke :) The garlic shrimp is like I remember. Lots of garlic and cooked all the way through! The rice was a little on the mushy side. Mahalo.. until the next time!

    (4)

  • Amanda U.

    this place was very highly recommended as a stop during vacation. I can see why, we waited in line maybe 20 minutes I really wasn't timing but it honestly wasn't that bad of a wait (especially with the nearby trucks giving samples to people in line). I got the hot & spicy (almost didn't because while in line a lot of people were saying it's too hot "like licking the sun" and on their menu it says it's very hot no refunds, I almost chickened out) glad I didn't, very spicy yes but not as bad as everyone described it. but I am a spicy eater so to me personally it was bearable on a scale of 1-10 (3/4 being sriracha and tapatio while 10 is a ghost pepper) I'd say it's like a solid 8. only knocking a star because of parking being an every man for themselves and because the food was a little over cooked both shrimp and rice, I wish there was an alternative than just rice had I not gotten full + half order (18 shrimp) I probably would've ate the rice but I didn't cause it was blan thankful the hot & spicy is dripping in sauce so I used that to eat a scoop of rice, overall could've lived without

    (4)

  • Sandra T.

    Decided to see all the hype was about with this shrimp truck as I've heard from everyone I know who has visited that this shrimp truck is a MUST! I am definitely on their side with this one. My husband and I were heading up north and decided to try Matsumoto shave ice and Giovanni's back to back as they are nearby each other. This truck is kind of in a random area where you feel you're so far away from the expensive taste of Waikiki. You can't miss this iconic truck! We had half an order of shrimp scampi and I cannot tell you how amazing it was. It was so nice and buttery and garlicy and spicy and... perfect. We were so tempted to get another half order but wanted to go up the block and try Macky's (which was a total waste of stomach space that could have been alloted to mister Giovanni). One star taken off because there were a lot of large flies buzzin' around. Wasn't feeling that as they were annoying. MUST GO!

    (4)

  • Patricia G.

    Still the same goodness but a bit oiler actually. The rice was a little too drenched in oil and butter but still delicious!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Scampi. Hands down. That's the most popular (stated on their menu) style and rightfully so. Popping a friend's shrimp truck experience, I drove here on a stormy Tuesday afternoon. Parking can be challenging, depending on when you come (obviously lunch time weekends are the worst). Find a space or patiently wait for someone to leave. Just look for the longest line and you'll find this truck. In studying their menu, we decided to share two half orders of the 'most popular' scampi and spicy respectively with a side of macaroni salad ( yelp.com/user_local_phot… ). The flavors were excellent as the scampi has more general appeal (what's not to like about garlic and butter?!) while the spicy was tangy AND spicy (note: the menu states there is no exchange accepted if you dislike the spicy, so diner beware). The shrimp is sweet and crunchy, testament to its freshness. The mac salad was a soothing reliever to the spicy sauce. Best yet, the half orders left us stomach space for shave ice from a neighboring truck. So far, best of the traditional shrimp trucks I've tried.

    (4)

  • Hector M.

    Talk about food trucks . This place was picketed with people. It was well worth it. The long line went fast. And the shrimp scampi plate was awesome . Finger looking good but just don't forget to take shell of shrimp . Cause I did on my first bite a little crunch . Love this place.

    (5)

  • Sean C.

    This isn't the original "Giovanni's" truck, but it's my favorite! Three items, go 12 Shrimp Scampi and 6 Spicy Red Shrimp side order. Don't do the other way 'round, the shrimp is too spicy to handle all 12 to yourself. I just had the best quality here, I think. The garlic butter rice is just right, perfect mound. The other original truck had slightly soggy, flawed rice. Either way, visit one or the other! #mahalo!

    (5)

  • Chari L.

    Yes. Yes. Yes. Got the spicy shrimp, shrimp scampi and the Mac salad. All were PERFECTION. It might take a week to rid my body of the amount of garlic consumed via the shrimp scampi but it was so good that I'm grateful to be able to take a little piece of Giovanni's home with me (with my breath).

    (5)

  • Tawn T.

    This place never disappoints of all the times I have visited them over the last decade! Great food I've tried both the scampi and the Hot. The hot is Hot & spicy! I don't suggest it for those who don't have a tolerance. The scampi on the other hand is perfect! Comes with about 12 shrimps and 2 scoops of rice and s rich buttery sauce. Love the fact that you can do 1/2 orders so I normally get 1/2 scampi and 1/2 spicy. i know it's food out of a roach coach buts it's a must try for all!

    (5)

  • Elliot O.

    I only come to this side of the island when my out-of-state friends come to visit. The thing I worry about most is the parking. Fortunately when I went a couple days ago, there was a lot more parking available in comparison to the number of people standing in line waiting for their food. The price is not too expensive for the amount of shrimp you get. If it's your first visit, then shrimp scampi is the way to go (their most popular shrimp). Beware of the flies though. You will have to constantly "shoo" them away while eating.

    (4)

  • Elisabeth N.

    Must have ! Delicious.lots of food trucks. But this was the best. Got here early and within mi Utes of opening there was a small crowd.

    (5)

  • Tammy M.

    Ugh..such a let down. My husband's friend recommended this place so we came expecting a lot. For $13 you get a dozen shrimp and two scoops of rice. I ate about 3 and was over it. We ordered the shrimp scampi: the upside the shrimp was fresh, the downside the sauce was bland and the rice mushy. We also tried the macaroni salad. My husband liked it but he'll eat anything. We're now on a mission to try out the other shrimp trucks.

    (1)

  • Landon N.

    North shore experience includes this truck. Get this if you want something unique. Won't be the most filling meal but at least its finger licking good. Cash only avg cost is $13 a little expensive but well worth the north shore eats

    (4)

  • Kenneth L.

    If you're around the north shore of Oahu, definitely give Giovanni's a try. I ordered the shrimp scampi and it was a punch of flavor. Nice garlic flavor. It was great with a little bit of lemon on the side. I also ordered a side of Mac salad, but it wasn't anything special so you can skip that. When I was here, the lines weren't very long. You can eat around the food trucks on the picnic tables but I don't recommend it. It's quite dirty and there are flies everywhere. I had to keep batting the flies away.

    (4)

  • Lisa L.

    If youre debating mackys or giovannis.. GO WITH MACKYS! we had both ( shrimp scampi /garlic shrimp) and mackys was the clear winner! Butter garlicness that melted in your mouth! The shrimp is cooked perfectly and the shell literally comes off super easy! they throw it on top of the rice . You get a side salad and a piece of pineapple to wash it down ! The garlic pieces arent huge like they are at giovannis and they are definitely cooked perfectly. Plus mackys is next door to the 7-11 so go get some ice cold drinks! Of course giovannis has more shrimp than mackys but giovannis was oily and full of burnt garlic... literally swimming in oil.. I cant see or taste why this has so many stars.. or even why its known to be hella good on the mainland... if I didnt pay 13$ for it id probably toss it. Anyways! Definitely go to mackys! You won't be disappointed!

    (2)

  • M H.

    Hell yeah! I can eat like this every damn day! Between this hidden gem and Alan Wongs. Oh baby oh baby! Soooooooo flipping good! All you need is some shaved ice and it is truly a day in paradise. Eat up and cheers to some great grub!

    (5)

  • Michael J.

    Giovanni's is a place to check out if you haven't done so before. It is known by almost every local person you bump into. Just right off the side of the Hwy you will find this shrimp truck along side another truck with a medium sized parking lot and several picnic tables. A truly must see and what's cool about this stop is that you can even leave your signature on the side of the truck with your sharpie pen. I've had much better scampi, but considering the hype, I think everyone should take the time out to check this out. Although the shrimp is huge, I felt that it lacked a little seasoning despite it's abundant garlic presence. I think it just need a little more salt and herbs. Other than that $12 bucks for lunch is a tad high for me, but I gave it a shot. Won't return to eat here because there are several trucks along the road that I'd like to give a try, but perhaps I'll be back to take a photo of my signature for a reuniting.

    (3)

  • Alesha S.

    The experience is as great as the food! The garlic scampi was delish; I liked it better than the lemon butter. After a long day at the beach, shrimp and rice totally hits the spot!

    (4)

  • Wendy L.

    Can someone please tell me if I went to a FAKE giovanni's shrimp truck?!! I wasn't good at all!! It was next to Hawaii Ono Shrimp truck and the wording in the truck wasn't arched... refer to my photo! I am so bummed that it wasn't good... :*(

    (2)

  • Patricia L.

    The bf and I made the long trek up to the North Shore to enjoy some of the famous shrimp trucks. Giovanni's is located in a dirt parking lot next to a few other food trucks. It's nice that they have some tables for people to sit at. We went in the middle of the afternoon, so there wasn't a long line...thank goodness! It took us about 10 minutes to get our food. We ordered the shrimp scampi plate to share since weren't that hungry. For $13 a plate you get a dozen large shrimp and rice. The shrimp was delicious...full of garlic flavor! I was not a fan of their rice that was cooked too soft, borderline mushy. I think I'll get the hot and spicy next time. Honestly, I think this place is a little too hyped up though.

    (3)

  • Suzanne F.

    They do great Mahi too! Flavor is fantastic and it's perfectly prepared. It was served with rice and a slaw/salad that was quite tasty. If you get to the North Shore look them up. You won't regret it.

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    This place is worth the drive for the best garlic shrimp on the island! The only thing that isn't so great is the parking. It's usually packed with locals and tourists. Plus, there are more food trucks in that little area now. Regardless, getting the shrimp scampi is totally worth the journey to Haleiwa

    (5)

  • Marck N.

    I am not sure of what all the hype is about Giovanni's. I found the shrimp scampi to be OK. Nothing really different to other places that serve garlic shrimp. The spicy shrimp plate was very spicy. The hot sauce that bathes the shrimp will burn your mouth for hours. The shrimps were cooked fine and were not overcooked. I wanted to like the meal more, but it tasted like any other shrimp plate that I could get in town. Why drive the long hour to the north shore for shrimp? If you are there though, I would say give it a try so that you can say you've eaten here.

    (3)

  • Jessica W.

    Not a shrimp fan in general, but really enjoyed eating a handful of very fresh and large shrimp with garlic and butter on top. The picnic tables and all the flies were an experience. Shrimp in one butter covered hand, the butter covered other hand waving flies away...

    (4)

  • Juan L.

    This Shrimp truck is a must try if you are in Haleiwa. The Scampi is one of the best that I have tried because of the shrimp quality and they add some extra garlic.The only thing that I did not like is it's not filling, I would say this is more of a snack. Don't forget to bring or buy extra water, have a lot of napkins and make sure that you have some gum.

    (3)

  • Anna B.

    Honestly I am not sure why people kept telling us to go here for the best shrimp on the island. My family and I were extremely disappointed with our shrimp plates. The shrimp was extremely overcooked till the point where it smelled very fishy. All I have to say is that you should probably keep driving down the road.

    (1)

  • Suzi F.

    I went to Giovanni's for the first time three years ago. Back then it was $11 for a dozen garlicky shrimp and two scoops of rice. Now it's $13 for the shrimp and rice. First, I don't like eating rice without some type of saucy entree. So essentially, I'm paying $13 to eat shrimp. I'm not exactly sure that it's not something I could recreate at home. But at the same time, I can't pull myself away. I love food. I love vacations. And I love eating food on vacations, especially food that other people continue to rave about. So if you have never eaten here, definitely give it a try. And if you have, well you'll be able to make up your own mind about whether you'd come again. If it weren't for the fact that I was with my sister who was visiting Hawaii for the first time, I probably would have opted for another food option. On a sidenote, a few other food trucks now also inhabit the area. There is a competing shrimp truck as well as a Mexican food truck and I believe one other.

    (3)

  • Shayna S.

    Excellent!! Had the shrimp scampi and macaroni salad. Messy as hell and quite a drive from our hotel but well worth it!

    (5)

  • Angela P.

    Food was ok guess my expectations were way too high maybe too much hype was expecting more but definitely not bad

    (3)

  • John S.

    The one star is for the rudeness of the service. They acted like they were doing the patrons a favor. Food was good, but not great, and pricy for the portion size. Probably won't go back again.

    (1)

  • Michelle S.

    Came here with the hubby after seeing the turtles at turtle beach. We found parking immediately and there was no line at all, which is surprising because everyone else had mentioned how bad the line is, maybe it was the time of day, we pulled in at little before 3 in the afternoon. We both ordered the garlic shrimp scampi and I ordered a side of the hot sauce. The shrimp was so Ono! Garlicky and buttery and the hot sauce to dip was very spicy and added a kick! It's definitely better to order hot sauce on the side instead of the hot and spicy order of the shrimp because it will burn your mouth!!! The only thing I wish were different is the amount of flies that attack when you sit at their tables, I wish I could have enjoyed my shrimp in peace but that's the price you pay when you eat outside I guess! I would recommend this shrimp truck to anyone even though it is a far drive from town it is worth it!!! Spend a day in da country!!!!

    (4)

  • Edgar H.

    Wow! Great, economic and terrific! A must do! Go to any of the two and you will not regret it.

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    scampi and spicy shrimp was THE BEST!!!! DROOOOOL

    (5)

  • norma p.

    we went to Giovanni's on my last day in Oahu. I ordered the lemon/butter and my son-in-law got the scampi. at first i was really disappointed that they didn't have coconut shrimp on the menu and i was a little concerned about the messy-ness because it has shell on, but i didn't have a problem peeling it off. it tasted fresh and i really liked it! my son-in-law loved the scampi, but later that night got a bad stomach ache and diarrhea :( i liked that they have a bathroom and a sink to wash your hands at.

    (3)

  • James D.

    Shrimp Scampi was amazing. Best shrimp truck on N. Shore. Garlic hot dog wasn't too bad either. Can't wait until next time.

    (5)

  • Crusader S.

    This place is a dump and the bitches working here dont give a fuck! They serve us pre cooked shrimp which was still cold after they tried warming it. I came back to have them reheat, they said they ran out of gas. My girl tried to use their bathroom, they said it was for employees only. Forgot to mention, those girls on the truck dont wipe down the tables. It was filthy!~ Wasted my $14! If your in Haleiwa, go to neighboring shrimp carts! Or drive up to Kahuku and get it at the original place!

    (1)

  • Chris A.

    Giovanni's gets my all stars vote not only cause of the ono grinds it provided me after jetskiing the waves of Haleiwa, but because you grind your plate right there hawaiian style in one of my favorite places to cruise! Everytime I cruise they seem to be out of everything else but the scampi! I don't know what that is trying to say, but hot damn that scampi plate is the one! It really doesn't matter what they got cause I'm usually so hungry that I just want to grind! Shaka-Shoots... this is da kine!

    (5)

  • Mr. W.

    So good! What can I say that hasn't been said? Went twice in the matter of a couple days and I'm already craving it again. Too bad I'm back on the mainland. I will be back every time I go to Oahu. The shrimp scampi is amazing. Their lemon and butter shrimp is great too.

    (5)

  • Takaki K.

    Google map doesn't find it right. It's on Kamehameha Hwy, at the south end of Haleiwa downtown, across from McDonald's. They recommend their 'Scampi' which is basically a bunch of shrimp cooked in garlic sauce (LOTS of garlic) served with rice. It's pretty tasty, but not sure if it's $13 tasty. Try it if you are in the area, but probably not worth making the long trip if you are in Waikiki.

    (3)

  • Kate B.

    Everyone says you HAVE to go here while on Oahu, so, like the lemmings we are, my husband and I made a stop here on our vacation. The prices shocked me a little, considering what little overhead they must have, but the flavor was good. I ordered the #1 (scampi) and my husband got the lemon butter shrimp. Once he tried mine he was jealous, but not so much when it was repeating on me for a day afterwards. $13 for shrimp and a couple small scoops of rice is a bit steep but not surprising for a tourist destination on the North Shore. Just be sure to follow with a dose of tums.

    (3)

  • Jonathan B.

    Im writing this review really late.but i can still remember how good it was. So i went here on my last trip to HI and we were spending the day in North Shore. and ive heard so much about the shrimp trucks on the islands. and we were told giovanni's was the go-to as far as shrimp trucks. luckily i tryed it. i got the spiciest of the shrimp platters. GARLIC RICE was also on-point. gARLICKY SPiCY GOODNESS.. I even ate some 3 hours later after shark diving. and the shrimp was still good. haha. all i know is that i am making sure to hit this shrimp truck every time i im in OAHU.

    (4)

  • Kerri S.

    Service was friendly, portions were generous (12 shrimp in the scampi). LOTS of garlic--there are even big pieces in the sauce they put on the rice. Limited menu, but I wasn't expecting much considering its coming from a truck!

    (4)

  • Hans N.

    Great place to try their famous Garlic Shrimp Scampi. They give you about 10 to 12 Large finger lickin prawns with a rather large scoop of rice, a good serving of green salad and a small chunk of pineapple. It'll cost you $12.99/plate, but it's well worth it. If you don't mind eating among the company of flies, then you will enjoy this experience; otherwise be prepared to do battle against them while you are eating.

    (4)

  • Doug ..

    kinda pricy... $13 for 12 "prawns"... they're shrimp giovanni. SHRIMP. its damn good shrimp though. the srimp scampi. dont get the spicy one... it WILL KILL YOU. get some pineapple to eat with your meal from the next truck over. best meal ever.

    (4)

  • Darren T.

    So I had heard about this before, and actually thought about heading to the other Giovanni's, but drove by this one on accident. I told my wife I had to stop. It was about 3:30pm, and all they had left was the Shrimp Scampi. So we ended up getting the third from last order of the day. The food was great and my wife and I split the plate so we could go out to dinner later. De-licious!! We both agreed, If you are at the north shore try it you will not be disapointed, unless you don't like shrimp, or garlic. The picture shown was $12, I would say it is fair for good size shrimp.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    It was pretty good and you get a lot of shrimp for the price. There is a shrimp truck by laie and hou only get 4 butterfly (what ever flavor you want shrimp) for 11 $! So at giovannis you get 12 shrimp for 13 $ plus 2 scoops of rice. They were SUPER fast so that is a huge plus. REALLY easy to find! I got the shrimp scampi, it was pretty good but it was VERY oily which I didnt like it could taste eay better if it wasn't doused in oil.... the other downside is that they did not de shell the shrimp... its not hard to do and it doesn't take long so I dont know why they dont do that. Its outdoor seating so ovbiously I expected flys. ..but cmon they should get fly traps!!! I would come back but I would ask for not so much oil on my shrimp. I also wish that they would let you substitute the rice for something else. I did not want any rice with mine and they wouldn't substitue it with 1 scoop of macaroni salad... oh well

    (3)

  • Cherif A.

    Shrimp was way overcooked, the spicy sauce was bad, The line was really long and the wait for food was more than half an hour. But I enjoyed the malasada(cinnamon donuts) stand near by. Look, with all the Shrimp Trucks on this Island...why stop and wait for bad shrimp, I suggest you go somewhere else.

    (1)

  • CJ c.

    This place was good, scampi only don't even try the rest... The Korean truck with the spicy shrimp is the way to go for spicy....

    (3)

  • Amy S.

    Food: We tried the garlic scampi plate. The shrimp were still in their shells which makes for a little more work, but they were tasty and heavy with the garlic, which as a garlic lover I enjoyed. My husband dipped his shrimp into their hot and spicy sauce which you can ask for on the side and he loved his shrimp too! The shrimp came with steamed white rice. Value: $13 for 12 small-medium sized shrimp with two scoops of steamed white rice--a bit on the pricey side if you ask me. Since rice is fairly cheap, it would break down to about a dollar per shrimp! Service: Good and fast. Ambiance: We went to Giovanni's truck stand...need I say anymore? However, there was a cute little feral kitten roaming around which I enjoyed watching as I was eating :-)

    (3)

  • Pamela H.

    So Ono! Dunno if there's anymore room on the truck for graffiti, but look for "Pam 206" (courtesy of the bf) on the side of the truck while you're waiting for your order of delicious scampi. I love me some spicy food, but if you're a Howlie like me, make sure you have plenty of liquids to wash it down. It's HOT, it's MESSy, and it's some of the best food I had while on the island. GET SOME. (9/08)

    (4)

  • Ray R.

    faka is kornnnnn!!

    (5)

  • Kritt M.

    I love this place! Giovanni has really got a sweet set up. His scampi is amazing. Also, check out the BBQ corn at the booth on the other side do the lot. Great environment at Giovanni's and amazing shrimp.

    (5)

  • Myles A.

    If you like garlic, this is the spot. And I LOVE garlic...but I'm slightly allergic to seafood, haha. I had one of their garlic hot dogs, because that's all I could eat there safely, and it was garlicy goodness. PS - A couple of the wahines that work there are smokin' hot!

    (3)

  • Calvin V.

    Ohhhhh man Garlic shrimp!!! i think if youre in honolulu or anywhere in hawaii, getting garlic shirmp is a must! there are plenty of vendors and trucks selling it but i went with Giovanni's based on a friends suggestion and wow so good!

    (5)

  • Rebecca C.

    One word: OVERRATED

    (2)

  • Becca W.

    TO DIE FOR. Simple menu, because they know what they're good at. I've been dreaming about it ever since.

    (5)

  • Greg C.

    Crack on a plate, dope on a bun. When did they add garlic dogs to the lineup??? Damn, i had to get one! It appeared to be a deep fried dog, but i couldn't tell. But i do know that it had small nuggets of garlic goodness all over the place! Shrimps were as good as usual and finger lickin good. Not much else to say.....check it.

    (5)

  • Rolando R.

    Good service. Mentioned free soda w. checkin and they honored it no questions asked. Got the shrimp scampi, a little too oily and saltier than I'm used to, no shrimp heads on the platter, but it was very good. Would come back next time I'm in Oahu. Warning, there is no toilet/wash so bring wipes.

    (4)

  • Lawrence H.

    Best food in the world. Outdoor picnic accommodations no ideal. It's all about the shrimp here.

    (4)

  • Tessie M.

    Never disappointed! Although the sauce is quite buttery it is soooo tasty! I can't get enough of the garlic sauce on my rice. I also got my son and nephew the garlic hotdog and it was pretty good.

    (5)

  • Joseph Y.

    What can I say? This is a family tradition every time we are on vacation in Oahu. Ask for a marker and sign your name on the truck and order a no frills garlic shrimp (with shells still on) and "2 scoops" rice. Get your hands dirty and enjoy! We usually get some mac salad as well. Dining in the open air picnic tables is an unassuming local experience you won't want to miss!

    (5)

  • Gilbert A.

    If you go to north shore you got to go here. Get the garlic shrimp. Now this is not for the dainty delicate and proper type. You get a plate with a bunch of shrimp with a butter garlic sauce over rice now that's Heaven . These shrimp still have the shells on which you can eat. But you should at least suck all the sauce off be for you peel off the shell. I have gone here twice on two different trips and will go back the next time I go there. I love this shrimp so much that I spent many days trying to recreate it which my family says I have and surpassed it. Maybe someday I will be able to buy my own Truck and make and sell it on the main land. But until then we will all have to go to the north shore to get it.

    (5)

  • K. L.

    2nd time back and I already miss it! The garlic shrimp is Uh-may-zing!!! This place looks rough but you gotta give it a try!

    (5)

  • Bon C.

    We decided to come here for a late lunch after spending the day at sunset beach. It was sooo good. My husband and I both ordered the scampi. If you love garlic, you'll love this shrimp. They also have half orders which is great if you have a kid. It was pretty busy when we were there so my husband had to park at mcdonalds across the street.

    (5)

  • Tara K.

    Was told this is the famous shrimp truck on the North Shore, so we had to try it. Was DELICIOUS! I had the Scampi (amazing, garlic heaven) and the Lemon Butter (very good). Both come with 2 scoops of sticky rice. It seems kinda pricey for food off of a truck, but it's so worth it. It's in a lot with a few other trucks. This was the only truck with a line, but it's worth the wait. There is a parking lot, but it's pretty small. A must stop on the North Shore!

    (5)

  • Jean S.

    Shrimp scampi & rice...AMAZING!! We're back on the mainland now and my friends and I are trying to recreate this beautiful masterpiece just to have that part of Hawai'i back! Loved this location that we had to go to the Kahuku location later in the week!!

    (5)

  • Cecilia D.

    I check out Giovanni's everytime I visit the island. A trip to the North Shore beautiful beaches and a plate of Shrimp Scampi. It goes hand in hand. Don't waste your time trying the diff trucks. Just go to Giovanni's!

    (5)

  • Bill F.

    Really, the shrimp is five stars, but the outdoor seating tables were dirty, and it is, after all, just a food truck. The one place that comes up time and again for good seafood if you tell someone you're visiting the North Shore is Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. They have four menu items to choose from: Shrimp Scampi, Spicy Shrimp, Lemon Butter Shrimp, and a Garlic Hot Dog. We were there about 3pm, and they were out of the Spicy and the Lemon Butter. Being out of something necessitates a lower rating by default. I have to agree with friends and family who recommended it, though. This is a must-stop if you're anywhere near Haleiwa. Just be warned that the address given under this listing on Yelp is incorrect. There are two Giovanni's shrimp trucks. The one in Haleiwa (pronounced, "hall-eh-ee-va") is just past the McDonald's on the left when you're approaching Haleiwa from Waimea. It's in a parking lot just off the main road going through the town. If you end up on a steep, twisty, windy road with a gnarly hairpin going up a big hill, you're going to the wrong place.

    (4)

  • LuLu M.

    Another staple of Oahu that I wish was in the Bay area! Although the food truck looks sketchy when you pull up, it is not reflective of their food. The one and only thing I ever order here is the Garlic Shrimp Scampi. Simple but delicious: shrimp fried in oil and butter with huge chunks of garlic served with rice. Huge portions too! Only downside (although not for me) is that the shrimp are served in their shells so you have to do a little work. Don't miss coming here!

    (5)

  • Hana G.

    OMG shrimp HEAVEN.

    (5)

  • Noreen S.

    We planned to go to the Giovanni's in Kahuku, but stumbled upon this one first. And let me tell you, we weren't the least bit disappointed. If you like garlic, then you will love the shrimp scampi...and if you can take SPICY, then get it hot. If you're not sure you can take Giovanni's spiciness, then ask for the hot sauce on the side (that's what I did). The shrimp itself was actually cooked perfectly, and I'm still wondering how they get the garlic infused without overcooking it. The garlic itself complements the shrimp, and didn't overpower it. Eaten with garlic rice, and dipped in the hot sauce...mmmm it has me craving for more. They also have lemon-butter shrimp on the menu, but don't even bother. My son actually had the garlic hotdog since he doesn't care for shrimp. Nothing to rave about...I can make it at home. Just put garlic, cooked in butter, on top of a hotdog. Gave it 4 stars, cause felt like I should have more shrimp for $14, and the hotdog was just average. But overall good experience. So, if you go to Giovanni's, go for the Garlic Shrimp/Shrimp Scampi. No other way to go.

    (4)

  • Brandon R.

    My wife is a HUUUGE shrimp fan, and we have definitely eaten our fair share of shrimp from shrimp trucks during our Hawaii stay. I have to say, with all the hype for Giovanni's, I was hiiighly disappointed. We have had 3 different trucks, Lanikai Beach, Waimanalo & Giovanni's, and Giovanni's is an easy distant third. The shrimp was bland compared to the other two and the eating location is just completely disgusting. They have numerous picnic tables out front in which are completely infested with hundreds of flies. Ok, not too bad, except there are extremely filthy porta-jons 20 feet away. We just ended up taking our food to our car to eat. Anyway, I will most definitely not be returning to Giovanni's, hopefully others have better experiences here.

    (1)

  • Chan T.

    Personally i prefer Romy's (shrimp grown locally/fresh )as i found Giovannis shrimp a bit too oily for my taste. As others have stated lots of files are wandering about. Had the shrimp scampi plate that came with two scoops of rice covered in oil and garlic along with lots of shrimp. Plates cost $13 and can be shared among 2 people that are small eaters. Drinks are available for a dollar. I felt that the oil covered up too much of the garlic taste. I really do love my garlic. Shrimps were decent size. Customer service was all right and they were quick and prompt in preparing the food. Staff seemed happy and even one of the male staffers came out and started singing along with the radio that was echoing in the background in the dining area.

    (3)

  • Thomas C.

    So we almost didn't end up here, because on the way to it, there were another 4-5 shrimp trucks. Although the reviews on yelp made me want to try THIS shrimp truck. The shrimp was good. A little pricey for $12, but not bad. The sauce is very good and buttery all over the rice. A perfect snack after getting the waves pounded on you. Like another reviewer stated, its best if you're in the area. I wouldn't drive specifically to the North Shore for this. But if you're in Oahu, you'll end up on the North Shore at some point so definitely give it a try. Skip the smoothies on the adjacent truck.... It was not worth the $5. My vita-mix destroys those.....

    (4)

  • Maria I.

    Believe the hype! Garlic shrimp is a must!

    (4)

  • Angel R.

    I've heard so much about this place as the go to Shrimp truck on the island. I was a little disappointed. The shrimp scampi was better then okay. However the cleanliness of the truck could be disturbing and take away all credibility of the food. Hence the 2 star rating. Also the flies that roam the area could also be an indication of the lack of sanitation. Bring Lysol and Purell. If you are brave enough to try this place. DO NOT Look inside the Shrimp Truck.

    (2)

  • Kirk D.

    Shrimps not my thing. so i got the hot hog and garlic rice and just ate a couple of shrimps off of someone else plate. burped up Garlic all day long. thx ;P its a cool touristy thing, be sure to write your name on the truck!

    (3)

  • Liz S.

    OMG. You know what I'm talking about.

    (4)

  • nicholas n.

    This was my 1st shrimp truck. I can still remember the taste of the fiery, spicy, hot tongue lashing shrimp. food: 4/5 The spicy shrimp is much better than the Macky's shrimp. The 12 shrimps come wtih 2 scoops of rice. I do not remember anything else about the rest of the food or other flavor shrimp. If you crave spicy shrimps than this is the truck. ambiance: 2.5/5 this stands next to another shrimp truck in Haleiwa, near McDonald. service: 2/5 cleanlyness: 3/5 Seriously folks. You are eating from a shrimp truck! safety: 4/5 Surrounded by tourists, you are pretty safe. cost: 4/5 For $12/12 shrimps and 2 scoops of rice. This is the rate for shrimp trucks. Overall: 3.5/5 I am grading this differently from restaurants. If I am comparing shrimp trucks, then I will give Macky's the top notch, due to location, varieties of shrimps, and more food for your money. However, I will say I really like the spicy shrimps from Giovanni.

    (3)

  • Paul B.

    super yum garlic lemon butter sauce. i dont even eat shrimp and yet was drawn to get these little suckers. the shells melted right off. yum.

    (5)

  • Maritess D.

    Came here after searching for turtles in north shore...my friends and I ordered the shrimp scampi and lemon n butter shrimp. The shrimp scampi is what's up I preferred it to the lemon n butter shrimp but that's probably because I loooove garlic. Wasn't too long of a line when we went and this place is by matsumoto's shaved ice which u should probably stop by right after to top off your meal :p Pretty pricey at $13 a plate but oh so worth it!!

    (5)

  • Linda N.

    Why wait in line? Eat at Giovanni's in Haleiwa; no line (or very short line) and the food is the same ono shrimp plates as the larger truck. Friendly servers and fast service. Granted, it was a week day (Wednesday) but when we drove by the larger truck the line and crowd discouraged us. Glad we drove on and you will be, too.

    (4)

  • Ellen C.

    What matters most, their food, deserves five stars. I hadn't heard of Giovanni's before eating there, I only found out how popular and famous they were when we got back to our hotel. We ordered one plate of Shrimp Scampi and we were absolutely blown away to say the least. The shrimp was drenched in butter and garlic and was the tastiest I've ever put in my mouth. Never before have I loved shrimp as I loved shrimp this way. I almost packed the entire truck up to bring home with me. The rice was even spectacular--it had chunks of garlic on top that had been marinating with the butter and shrimp so it was a perfect balance on my taste buds. It was priced normal to high--$12 for a plate of food which included the 14-15 shrimps shell on, and two mounds of rice. The only reason I gave it a 4? The flies. There were flies EVERYWHERE. Considering I was not prepared to be bitten about 100x this trip I was a bit bothered that all the patrons around me and our plates were getting attacked by flies. Our only savior was an already wasted shrimp on the ground--we threw it about 10 feet away from us and that helped get rid of most of the flies. But unfortunately in the hot, humid air, they never really go away. So besides the annoying eating circumstances the flavor was GREAT. I felt really bad though for the truck next door that serves the same dish (though I've never tasted so am not sure about the flavor) for the same price. The benches were full @ Giovanni's but only the owner sat on the benches at the other one. Next time I go back I'll buy a plate each from both trucks.

    (4)

  • Tony N.

    A MUST EAT when your on the island. I can't stop thinking about this place. The locally raised shrimps was cooked to perfection. We loved it soo much that we when back to this truck atleast 3 times while we were on the island for a week. I have not had shrimp that has compared to this. Try it and you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • sugi o.

    3 1/2 stars... given all the hype of shrimp trucks, wanted to try one out. asked my friend for the best one and he recommended this one. now, my husband said the shrimp was what you would expect... shrimp with garlic and butter. and 2 scoops of rice. he said it was what he expected.. nothing amazing or out of this world. (im allergic to shrimp so we went to kua aina for a burger for myself)... so, all in all... i think if you're in the area, then definitely give it a try. but it was not worth the hour drive to the north shore to try it out. and in hindsight, we would have stayed at our hotel and relaxed by the beach and worked on our tan. :P

    (3)

  • Jen R.

    Ummmm okay I guess...We did a side by side comparison with Giovanni's vs. Fumis, and Giovonnis lost big time. Their shrimp was small and quite fishy tasting, rice tasted like it had been siting around for hours, and was ore expensive. If you can only have one and are driving down that road FULL of shrip trucks go for Fumis. You will thank me.

    (3)

  • Adam K.

    Could use fries instead of rice. Awesome shrimp. I was on vacation and looking for this shrimp truck that everyone talked about. Definitely worth the look. If you're going to Hawaii and on the north shore, give it a try.

    (4)

  • Mindy N.

    We got the spicy shrimp and the shrimp scampi. I tried the spicy shrimp first and it was OK. I've had spicier delicious buttery flavors at Boiling Crab in OC, CA. But then I tried the shrimp scampi and it was a smack in the face with GARLIC!!! Simply genius! Of the two, the shrimp scampi tasted the best with all that garlic! I'd recommend to try the shrimp scampi if you happen to catch Gionvanni's on the way.

    (5)

  • EurJean C.

    Our lovely friends drove us to North Shore on our honeymoon to try Matsumoto Shave Ice and we were lucky enough to find Giovanni's Shrimp Truck. It's a bit expensive for a food truck, but we shared a plate. The garlic shrimp is shell on and the best part is peeling it and sopping up the extra garlic butter with the rice. If you bring a permanent pen, you can leave your mark on the truck too!

    (4)

  • Joel A.

    If you ever visit the Island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands, NEVER pass this place up for you'll probably miss w/o a doubt the BEST shrimp truck ever in the face of this planet! My family stumbled upon this place 6 months ago reading about it through various sources and all some credible testimonies from relatives who also took some vacation time on the Islands. We tried their Original Shrimp Scampi and the rumors are all true: It is The BEST! A little pricey but worth it considering The Islands is a Tourist town. We had a great time eating here and i'll never forget one of their signature dishes called the "No Refund Shrimp", Shrimps that came w/ Habanero pepper sauce that will absolutely make you cry and say Uncle (Yup, it's that hot!) . This place is gonna be on my need to go again spots the minute i come again to the Islands along with Hanauma Bay, Waikiki Beach and the Dole Plantation. Hopefully i could find one something like Giovanni's here in Hayward, CA but unfortunately...i'm not even close!

    (5)

  • Russell B.

    Behind Side Street Inn, this was my top place to visit on Oahu. I probably would've found some reason to come up here from Honolulu even if I didn't want to check out the north shore as well. I certainly was not disappointed with the scampi. Sure its a bit of a hassle to peel the shrimp but they are cooked perfectly and the greasy garlicky mess is well worth it accompanied with a scoop of white rice. Yum! Definitely worth a quick stop if you are up in the north shore area.

    (4)

  • Conni S.

    My husband and I were told by the concierge at the Hotel that Giavonnis was the best.. We arrived early for the 10:30 am opening.. Ordered one garlic and one spicy hot.... And the Angels sang.... Yum perfectly sautéed shrimp, 13 Huge Rambo sized.... Mouthwatering... The Hot is very much so and we shared and loved them both, served with a generous amount of rice... In love with Giavonnis !

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    It's not like the real one

    (3)

  • Jae P.

    Giovanni's has been a required stop for my family and friends every time we've visited the north shore. I haven't been there in months, but since my girlfriend had just returned from the mainland and she loves shrimp, we just had to make a trek out there today (the fact that gas had recently come down to around $2.21/gallon didn't hurt either....) With stomachs grumbling, and our taste buds screaming for some scampi shrimp, we headed out for Giovanni's. We utilized H-3 to cut our trip time in half, but my girlfriend spent most of the trip asking "are we there yet?" Just when we thought we'd never see it, we saw the holy grail that was Giovanni's famous shrimp truck. Actually its more like a shrimp bus now...gone is the hobo-ish truck they used to use which often made me question whether they had a valid license to sell food. Still there is the endless sharpie graffiti from previous customers...as previous reviewers stated, bring your sharpie and leave your mark there (I tried peeing on the tires instead to leave my mark, but they didn't seem too happy about that...). there are basically four choices now on the menu: (1) shrimp scampi; (2) butter shrimp; (3) hot and spicy shrimp; and (4) garlic hot dog. Whoever goes to Giovanni's to get a garlic hot dog should have their sanity and tastebuds questioned...not saying that their hot dogs aren't good, just that you don't go to a shrimp truck all the way in the north shore to get one. I would recommend you get a plate of the shrimp scampi with a side of the hot sauce. Do not get the hot and spicy shrimp unless you're okay with spicy food (i.e. Korean). I had the hot and spicy once, and although it was tasty, it was very hot and I spent about the better part of an hour thinking about cutting out my own tongue. In fact, I saw a guy give his dog a piece of hot and spicy shrimp after the dog had been begging for a while. The dog took a couple of licks, took the shrimp into its mouth, then promptly spit out the shrimp and spent a couple of minutes licking the grass/chair/tree/man's leg, anything to get the spice off. Never saw the dog beg again. Each plate comes with 12 pieces of jumbo sized, fresh shrimp. The scampi sauce is one of the best, with huge pieces of garlic. The shrimp meat is succulent and just melts in your mouth. I eat the shell and all...kind of strange, but I have to have as much of the sauce as I can, and that's the only way I know how. Also comes with two scoops of rice with garlic on top. This is the only way to eat when it comes to the north shore. Please do yourself (and your tastebuds) a favor and head towards Giovanni's the next time you're in the north shore area...you'll thank the gods that such a place exists!

    (5)

  • Sunnie H.

    One of the highlights of my eating experiences in Hawaii. The spicy shrimp was even too spicy for me. Simple, fresh and a perfect lunch.

    (4)

  • Cee Cee B.

    OK so i am really not a shrimp or rice eater but everyone that visits me has it on there bucket list. So first thing i do is get to the north shore and take them there. They are always so happy and eat all the food. So i give it a four star based on family and friends eating and licking their chops.

    (4)

  • Charles M.

    Man on our trip to Oahu, we made it out to both trucks because it was soo good. To those who complain about the workers and cleanliness need to think about it for a second. You can't complain, its a truck on the side of the road, if anything that's what makes these places taste soooo good. you know what your getting into when you pull over on the side of the road and eat from a truck that is covered in grafitti. I normally don't eat seaffod but man this shrimp is sooo garlicky with cold rice, it just hit home. Nuff said!

    (4)

  • Trina A.

    Yum. Garlic shrimp scampi was so buttery, and garlicky! The BF and decided to share because the price was pretty steep ($13) per plate but ohh i wish we got two because we devoured everything with a quickness. I did not enjoy all of the flies that were trying to get in on my buttery garlicky shrimp action though. There's no better combo on rice than butter and garlic....and when you add shrimp in the mix....winner!

    (4)

  • Iffat B.

    I thought this shrimp truck was ok. I ordered the shrimp scampi which included 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of rice for $13 but it was wayyyy too garlicky/salty. They also didn't have a place to wash your hands!!

    (3)

  • Dan M.

    Spicy shrimp is spiiiiiiiiiiiicy!!! And delicious!

    (3)

  • Mari N.

    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is the best Garlic Shrimp I've eaten. It's cooked shell-on with a gratuitous amount of roasted minced garlic. This place is a must when visiting North Shore!! I've gone to another shrimp truck, but Giovanni's is the best. $13.00 bucks for about 10 large Kahuku Shrimp per person w/ 2 scoops of rice....I was a bit disappointed about the rice cuz being of Japanese ancestry, I like good rice...but hey, Giovanni's is not known for their rice, so it's okay. :)

    (4)

  • Nathan E.

    I've been to some of the best food trucks and Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is pretty good. Drop by on a drive to North Shore and try it out. The shrimp is well prepared and hot, juicy, and flavorful. Yeah, there are a lot of flies and ruin the relaxation because you have to constantly swap them away.

    (3)

  • Natsu Y.

    Amazing scampi :)

    (4)

  • Kevin P.

    This place has really gone downhill in the last couple of years, service was marginal, and the flys in the area are unbelievable, the whole place is filthy. I will probably not go back.

    (2)

  • Naruto G.

    so yummy and unbelievable good. $13 for 12 shrimps and 2 scoop or rice, pretty good deal in hawaii. the shrimps are fresh and well marinated with garlic. My husband tried the hotdog, it's pretty good. Make sure you order enough, the line can be long

    (5)

  • Aneisha P.

    DELISH!!! Got the scampi which was loaded with garlic flavor which I love(I love garlic so much that if there was a garlic scented perfume, I'd buy it). Then to have the garlic sauce with small chunks of garlic on the rice...ultimate yumminess. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. In all the other reviews, people complain about paying $13 for a dozen JUMBO shrimp(including the side of rice) To me $13 is actually cheap for what you get. When you go to a restaurant, you pay about $13 for like 5 pieces of small shrimp. If ever visiting Oahu, please stop by this truck, you won't be disappointed. I think I may make one more trip back to this place before I go home...

    (5)

  • Sergio M.

    My friends were telling my that I had to go to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck... so I put it on the must do list in Oahu. I found this truck on my first trip up to the north shore. Stopped off not knowing it was the second location. But let me tell y'all... OMG! The best freakin' shrimp I have ever had! Man what they call shrimp are larger than the tiger prawns back home! I tried the hot and spicy... Delicious! They were very spicy so if you can't handle heat don't even f..k with them because they are HOT! For $12 you get a dozen shrimp and two scoops of white rice. Now I did hit the other truck and will leave a review for it also. Giovanni's a must when visiting Oahu!

    (5)

  • Dennis C.

    Great shrimp, large pieces, delicious garlic rice on the side, nice spicy sauce to dip the shrimp, grimy picnic tables and NO BATHROOM! But I'd eat there again. $13 gets me 12 shrimp and 2 scoops of garlic rice.

    (4)

  • Andy C.

    service was great.. food was spectacular... prices wasn't so great, but was it worh it? HECK YEAH! butter shrimp and garlic shrimp!!!

    (5)

  • David B.

    Right after picking up some shave ice from Matsumoto's, we came here for an afternoon snack. On this Saturday afternoon, there was a lot of parking available. Today me and two others shared the shrimp scampi ($13) and hot and spicy shrimp ($13). Wait was less than 5 minutes. I first dived into the hot and spicy. Wow....felt like Ken from Street Fighter gave me a super flaming dragon punch combo to the mouth! I thought that I built up my tolerance of hot and spicy foods over the years, but was unprepared for this. I had to reach quickly for my shave ice with tears in my eyes. However, the next few bites weren't that bad after peeling off the shell first. I still needed some shave ice after each shrimp piece though. I liked the sauce though. It had a vinegary and chili mix to it. So yeah - no joke when the menu says "No Refunds." Come prepared with water or shave ice! The scampi was excellent. I'm a big fan of garlic and was no disappointment. In fact, passing by earlier I would smell the garlic from my car on the road. In both dishes, the shrimp was very fresh. They have an ample amount of tables set up in front, but we had to shoo away the flies in the beginning. My advice is to have it to go, head down to the beach and enjoy it down there with the nice view!

    (4)

  • Joyce L.

    I find it completely ridiculous that the first place I tell my friends to visit when they go to Oahu is Giovanni's Shrimp Truck (not to be confused with the other impostors). What about the amazing beaches... yeah, yeah, those are great but remember to visit the shrimp truck. The Scampi is to die for. Twelve jumbo shrimp, heaps of fried garlic goodness in a rich buttery sauce... top if off with a few squeezes of lemon juice and you're good to go. Each bite is a serious taste of heaven. I think it's time for another Hawaiian vacation.

    (4)

  • Jen K.

    Shrimp scampi definitely didn't live up to the hype. A dozen shrimps cooked in butter and garlic sounds amazing, but I wasn't all the impressed. We also tried hot and spicy, which was very tabasco-ish rather than real heat, and actually wasn't all that spicy. You probably feel the need to order shrimp scampi just to check it out, but there are several other trucks in the lot (Thai, Mexican, etc), so just order one plate of shrimp scampi then get another plate from Opal Thai - their food is amazing! Cash-only at these food trucks.

    (3)

  • Anh W.

    I love their shrimp and rice. It's definitely very flavorful and buttery/garlicy. The shrimp is very tender and of decent size. The rice is very firm and not mushy. Overall, the food is very good. However, the only down side to this place is similar to many other reviewers' comments--the flies. I was very bothered by the flies because they just kept swarming around us when we eat. We have to keep fanning our napkins in the air to shoo them away. If I were to go back here again, I would get it to go and eat it at the beach instead.

    (4)

  • Char Y.

    fresh shrimps that takes a long time (like 20 minutes) to wait for!

    (4)

  • Shannon B.

    Easily one of the most disgustingly wonderful meals I've ever had. A takeaway plate covered in rice, shrimp, butter and garlic. Oh sweet Lord, here I come! It is worth the impending heart attack or at the very least the kanak attack... Not for those counting calories or with high cholesterol. For the rest of us it is worth the drive up towards the North Shore. You may come for the shrimp, but you'll stay for the garlic butter that leaks into the 2 scoops of rice. Do yourself a favor and take an antacid on the way up and enjoy!!

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Shrimp were good but you can see the grease that makes it taste so good and makes it so not good for you. The scampi is drowning in that garlic butter. The spicy actually has a good kick to it. I personally though the lemon butter one was too lemony but that's probably just my taste. It really reminds me of boiling crab here in California except that it's just shrimp and seating is outdoors. The bathrooms are kind of nasty but they have a sink right behind the main outdoor seating area. 3.5 stars

    (4)

  • tiber s.

    Address is wrong and it is seriously overrated. We checked the address from yelp and also our latest GPS had same. Once we reached there we found out, we are at a residential place and no shrimp truck nearby. Not even any store. We were starving at that point. So I pulled out my iphone to find the address and it also had the same address. Then we called Giovanni's. They told us the address was wrong. They gave us one address nearby, 66-457 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa, HI. It is in front of a McDonald's. We ordered garlic shrimp and it could no way be worth $13 for the taste. Yeha there was more than 10 shrimps, but it did not taste anything near special. And cannot forgot the flies, lots of them. There were 3 other trucks there. We should have tried the other trucks instead. So being tired and still hungry we went to the McDonald's. And big mac and cheeseburger never tasted so good in life. We tried blue water shrimp truck later and that is awesome, yumm.

    (1)

  • Kristen C.

    I wanted to come here because I wanted to try their spicy shrimp. I got it and it WAS really spicy, not like how other places say its spicy and its really not. I like that they even warn you and the sign says NO REFUNDS haha. The sauce was ok, it was a bit tangy/sour and I wish that they added garlic to it, it seemed like they used fresh chili flakes because the spicy just lingered in your mouth and lips but i liked it =9. I also liked how it was not highly oily like other places. The shrimp also didnt seem as fresh or plump like a couple of the other shrimp trucks. My rice also sucked because it was hard and not "soft" or fluffy enough to soak up the sauce. Overall it was okay and im glad I tried it, but for $13 they could have at least added a pineapple slice or some salad.

    (3)

  • James L.

    I've eaten at this place up in Kahuku. It's just off road on a rocky area. It's $12 a place for 12 pieces of shrimp and 2 scoop rice. It's pretty good shrimp (but not extraordinarily good), and it's usually pretty crowded. I think it's a bit quantity over quality, but that's probably how it became to be due to its popularity. But it's nice to eat it once in a while. The wait after ordering is a bit of a killer though. Probably a good 30min to 45min wait.

    (3)

  • ToddKat K.

    I tried a few other trucks but this one is THE BEST of the bunch. Fresh, clean, sweet shrimp and the shells peal right off nice and easy. Rice was also good after putting on a few drops of hot sauce.... Good livin'.

    (5)

  • A G.

    I wanted to see what all the hype was about. Got the $13 shrimp scampi plate. Tasted delicious! Tons of garlic. Only downside--super-greasy.

    (4)

  • Jason D.

    Great shrimp scampi! If you like shrimp -- even a little -- you gotta try this place.

    (5)

  • Matt C.

    Good taste but so oily

    (3)

  • Joe B.

    Military Discount available and the Butter Shrimp and the Spicy Garlic Shrimp is awesome!

    (4)

  • Melissa Z.

    The best shrimp I've ever had!! Everytime we go to HI we head straight to North Shore and our first stop before the beaches is Giovanni's!! Their shrimp scampi is the best plate on their menu. There's chunks of garlic all over the shrimp and rice. You will not be disappointed!! I've tried other shrimp trucks in the area and one even gave me a crazy allergic reaction on my lips!!!! LOL!! I can laugh about it now, but I was FREAKIN OUT when I saw what it did to me!! Giovanni's NEVER gave that weird reaction, therefore, it's one of my favorite shrimp trucks on the island! Have a plate before the beach and after!! You won't regret it! Only problem is that they close early (around 6pm or 7pm). The sun is still up at that time and people are just leaving the beaches.

    (5)

  • Janette B.

    The best garlic scampi out there no doubt. BUT!!! For that much money ($13 bucks a meal) they could at least invest on some cheap fly traps. I was eating with my left and fanning flies on my right! I was eating as fast as I could before the flies could have a chance to get to my food. I didnt want to catch fly-bourne illness (hepatitis anyone?). I was out of there in lightning speed. To sum it up, good food but highly unsanitary!

    (2)

  • Jon H.

    I ordered the Hot & Spicy Shrimp plate, and when they mean Very Hot, they are not lying. Sweating while eating is not my favorite thing to do, but it was worth it. Taste great. I also tried the Shrimp Scampi and I loved that garlic taste. I should have ordered a plate to-go.

    (4)

  • Rey T.

    This white, graffiti-covered, food-slinging van sells one thing and one thing only SHRIMP SCAMPI! (Well, they sell spicy shrimp and hotdogs too, but WHYYYY?) The Shrimp Scampi at Giovanni's is so exquisitely garlicky, that I have no problem eating the whole shrimp --- shells and all. They soak the headless shrimp in a tub with butter, garlic, salt and quite possibly, magic. Order the Number 1 and you'll receive a paper plate with 2 scoops of rice, a lemon wedge and heavenly, heavenly Shrimp Scampi. When you get your plate, sit down, shut up and start eating. I swear to God, do not talk to anyone while you eat this. It will dilute the experience. I know what you'll say: "Twelve bucks for a plate of shrimp???" Well, considering that you just spent upwards of $300 getting to the island and 45 minutes driving to the truck in the middle of nowhere, I'd say $12 is a relatively small price to pay for this golden plate of goodness. Be warned: Along the way to Giovanni's there will be many false idols to avoid. There will be big signs heralding how good their shrimp is. There are even other vans with graffiti on them to confuse tourists who have heard of "that graffiti covered van that serves awesome shrimp" only to be lured by a lesser god. The reason for this is that the fields around Kahuku are replete with shrimp farms. And everyone thinks they can be a Giovanni's Shrimp truck. This shrimp is so good, the story of how this truck came to be is shrouded in extortion, kidnapping, even attempted murder. Let's just say that in the end, the bad guys were thrown in jail, and the owner kept his truck so that he could continue serving you the best Shrimp Scampi on Oahu. Now shut up and eat your shrimp!

    (5)

  • Anna W.

    The Garlic Rice with the Shrimp Shrimp are sooooo good..... The shrimps are soo fresh and you got like the whole plate of jumbo shrimps is worth the money and the drive...... LoVing IT!!!!

    (5)

  • Susan C.

    First of all, the address is wrong. We ended up at a residential area. There are many reviews that say where it is exactly. I can't pronounce names in Hawaii. Anyway, the place is kind of overrated. I'd want to see how the other shrimp trucks taste in comparison.

    (2)

  • Drew A.

    Veined, but not shelled garlic shrimp. I can see why this place is so popular with Yelp and the Japanese tourists...it is awesome. The 12pcs. of shrimp were perfectly seasoned, and the rice was great for some starch. Not too sure we needed the extra garlic butter on top of the rice too though...burp. There are two in the same parking lot, and I have no idea how you can compete with this place.? At least we can all share the same park benches and flies. Wish I had a wetnap(kin).

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    beware of imitators. go to the OG, giovanni's. there's a reason this place is always packed. shrimp scampi - the most popular- $13 for 12 shrimp. get delicious garlic burps the rest of the day and start daydreaming about your next visit to giovanni's.

    (5)

  • Bruce B.

    It's pan fried shrimp and rice...nothing super amazing. Had the scampi and something else. It's not bad and I'll be back but it's not amazing. I should get another star for being served from a truck. I can't really say I've eaten anything better from a truck. It's good stop for a quick lunch or if you're just bored driving around.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:30 am - 5:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : No

Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

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